Meta will roll out a new system on Instagram to notify parents when teenagers repeatedly search for suicide or self-harm content. Alerts will trigger after multiple searches in a short period. Meta links the feature to its Teen Account supervision tools. The company says the feature strengthens protections for young users online.
Previously, Instagram blocked harmful searches and redirected teens to external support services. Meta now adds direct parental notifications to provide families with more oversight. Teen Accounts in the UK, US, Australia, and Canada will start receiving alerts next week. The company plans a global rollout in the coming months.
Molly Rose Foundation Expresses Concern
The Molly Rose Foundation criticized the alert system. Chief executive Andy Burrows says automatic notifications could have unintended consequences. He warns alerts may trigger panic rather than offer constructive guidance.
The foundation was created by the family of Molly Russell, who died by suicide in 2017 at age 14 after viewing self-harm and suicide content online, including on Instagram. Burrows says parents naturally want to know if their child struggles. He warns sudden alerts could leave families shocked and unprepared for sensitive conversations.
Meta says it will attach expert resources to each alert. The company says these materials will guide parents through difficult discussions. Ian Russell, who chairs the foundation, questions whether the support will be enough. He says a parent receiving the alert at work could panic. Written guidance alone may not prevent immediate distress.
Experts Call for Stronger Safeguards
Charities say the alert system highlights deeper platform risks. Ged Flynn, chief executive of Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide, welcomes the alerts but says stronger preventive action is needed. He says young people continue to encounter harmful online content.
Flynn notes parents contact his organization daily, worried about children’s exposure. Families want platforms to prevent dangerous material from appearing, not just alert them afterward.
Leanda Barrington-Leach, executive director of 5Rights Foundation, urges Meta to redesign systems with child safety as default. Burrows cites research showing Instagram still recommends harmful content about depression, self-harm, and suicide to vulnerable teens.
He stresses companies must address systemic risks instead of shifting responsibility to parents. Meta disputes the foundation’s September report, saying it misrepresents the company’s teen safety and parental support measures.
Governments and Regulators Increase Pressure
Instagram designed Teen Account alerts to detect sudden changes in search behavior. Meta says the system builds on existing safety tools. The platform already hides self-harm and suicide content and blocks related searches.
Parents will receive notifications via email, text, WhatsApp, or directly in the app. Meta chooses the delivery method based on contact information provided. The company acknowledges alerts may occasionally trigger without serious cause. It says it prefers caution when protecting young users.
Sameer Hinduja, co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, says alerts will naturally alarm parents. He stresses practical guidance must follow each notification. Companies cannot leave families alone with fear. Hinduja believes Meta understands that responsibility.
Instagram plans to extend alerts to interactions with its AI chatbot. The company notes teens increasingly turn to artificial intelligence tools for support. Governments worldwide continue pressuring social media firms to improve child safety.
Australia has banned social media for children under 16. Spain, France, and the UK are considering similar measures. Regulators closely monitor how tech companies engage young users. Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri recently appeared in a US court defending the company against claims it targeted underage users.
