Instagram to Notify Parents of Teen Self-Harm Searches
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has unveiled a new feature that will alert parents when their teenage children search for terms related to suicide or self-harm on the platform. This initiative is integrated into Instagram's "Teen Accounts" and parental supervision tools, aiming to close the gap between a teen's online behavior and a parent's capacity to offer support during mental health crises.
How the Alert System Functions
According to Meta, the system activates when a teen repeatedly attempts to search for phrases that promote self-harm or indicate a desire to hurt themselves within a short timeframe. For this to occur, the teen must be enrolled in "Parental Supervision." Starting next week, parents and teens in this program will receive notifications about these new alerts, which are based on search activity.
Attempted searches that trigger alerts include:
- Phrases promoting suicide or self-harm
- Phrases suggesting a teen wants to harm themselves
- Specific terms like 'suicide' or 'self-harm'
If repeated behavior is detected, an alert is sent to the parent via email, text, WhatsApp, or an in-app notification. Tapping the alert opens a full-screen message explaining the situation without revealing the exact search history, instead informing the parent that sensitive terms were used repeatedly. The alert also provides expert-backed resources to help parents initiate conversations without causing additional distress.
Rollout and Additional Features
These alerts will initially launch for parents using Instagram's parental supervision tools in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada next week, with plans to expand to other regions later this year. Meta is also developing similar parental notifications for teens' conversations with artificial intelligence, scheduled for release later this year.
Meta emphasized that these alerts are designed to equip parents with the necessary information to support their teens, accompanied by expert resources to facilitate sensitive discussions. This move underscores Meta's commitment to enhancing online safety and mental health support for younger users through proactive technological interventions.
