To create safer digital spaces for young users, Instagram recently introduced a new policy that blocks users under 16 from going live unless they have explicit parental consent. The update comes amid growing scrutiny of how social media platforms handle youth engagement, especially as concerns about the mental health and online safety of adolescents reach new heights.

Maintaining a strict age restriction, Snapchat, too, bars users under 13 from accessing the platform. These events reflect a larger industry shift—one that prioritises responsible platform design and tighter age-related access norms to safeguard minors online. This recalibration by social media platforms is not only a response to regulatory pressure but also to rising public concern.

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