Instagram wants to help parents talk to their kids about being safe online.
The social media giant launched a new parent-oriented guide that helps them tackle topics like safeguarding their privacy, controlling who can comment on their posts and managing their time spent in the app.
It comes as tech companies and consumers alike have generated more attention toward the topics of social media and device addiction.
Instagram launched a new parent-oriented guide that helps them tackle topics like safeguarding their privacy, controlling comments and managing their time spent in the app
‘We know that as a parent it may be hard to understand the changing digital landscape and what your kids are doing online,’ Instagram explains on the site.
‘That’s why we’ve created this resource. We’re here to fill you in on what Instagram is all about, give you some conversation starters for you and your teen, and show you some of the tools that are in place to keep your teen safe.’
The guide ranges from very basic things, like a glossary of commonly used terms on Instagram, such as ‘block,’ ‘IGTV’ or ‘Stories,’ to more complex topics, like how to filter out offensive comments on the app.
It instructs parents to discuss with their kids whether they should make their account public or private and what kinds of privacy controls they have on the app.
These controls include things like filtering out certain offensive words from appearing in comments, blocking users and disabling people from commenting on posts entirely.
Users can also choose specific groups that can comment on posts and report comments they deem offensive or inappropriate.
Instagram also included a list of prompts to help steer that conversation between parents and kids. It includes topics that focus around privacy, how often they use the app and more
The site also breaks down the kinds of time management tools that are offered on Instagram.
Instagram rolled out these features in recent months and they’re aimed at helping kids become more aware of just how much time they’re spending in the app on a daily or weekly basis.
Users can also set reminders that limit how much time they spend on the app each day, as well as mute notifications from Instagram for the remainder of the day.
The firm is expected to roll out more time management features in future app updates.
While none of these features are new, Instagram executives explained in an supplementary video that it’s likely most parents aren’t aware that such privacy and time management controls exist in the app.
The site ranges from basic things, like a glossary of common terms, such as ‘block,’ ‘IGTV’ or ‘Stories,’ to more complex topics, like how to filter out offensive comments on the app
The parent-oriented guide instructs parents to discuss with their kids whether they should make their account public or private and what kinds of privacy controls they have on the app
They added that knowing how the app works can help parents start a conversation with their kids about how they use Instagram.
Instagram also included a list of prompts to help steer that conversation between parents and kids.
This ranges from questions about how their child would respond to bullying on Instagram to whether or not they’ve ever felt uncomfortable by content shared on the app.
What’s more, the firm noted that it consulted with a variety of outside organizations to develop the guide, including the National Alliance for Mental Illness, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center and the National Eating Disorder Association, among many others.