Meta expands teen accounts to Facebook and Messenger, critics say more needs to be done

One year after launching teen accounts for Instagram, Meta is expanding the program to Facebook and Messenger. The company said the move is part of its ongoing effort to keep kids safer online.

With teen accounts , users under 18 are automatically enrolled with built-in protections.

Meta says 97% of teens under 16 are staying within those restrictions.

The company also highlights features such as sleep mode and supervision tools, which let parents set daily time limits and monitor activity.

“Teen accounts are really meant to respond to some of the top concerns that we’ve heard from parents,” Jennifer Hanley, Meta’s North American head of safety policy, told WTOP in September.

The accounts ensure teens under 16 need their parents’ permission to change the restrictions, according to H