Children and teenagers on Instagram are still exposed to harmful content, despite the rollout of many safety tools, according to a study led by a Meta whistleblower.
Instagram introduced specialized teen accounts in 2024, promising stronger protections and expanded parental oversight. But the study, released Sept. 25, found that 30 of the 47 safety features on Instagram are either “substantially ineffective or no longer exist.”
The study was led by Arturo Béjar, a former senior Meta engineer who testified before Congress last year about how Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, handles online content aimed at children. The study also involved cybersecurity experts from New York University and Northeastern University, and other organizations focusing on children’s safety in online spaces….