Meta has officially launched Instagram Teen Accounts in Nigeria, a move aimed at creating a safer and more private social media experience for teenagers across the country. This initiative is part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to protect young users and give parents greater peace of mind as more Nigerian teens join the platform.
With Instagram’s growing popularity among Nigerian youth, concerns about online safety and privacy have become increasingly important. Meta’s new Teen Accounts come with built-in protections designed to limit who can contact teens and control the type of content they see.
By default, all teen accounts in Nigeria will be set to private, meaning only approved followers can view their posts. Teens under 16 will need parental permission to adjust these settings to be less restrictive. Messaging is also limited so that teens can only receive messages from people they already follow, reducing the risk of unwanted contact.
The platform will automatically filter out sensitive content from teens’ feeds, search results, and recommendations. Features like “Hidden Words,” which helps prevent bullying by hiding offensive comments, are enabled by default. Additionally, Instagram will send reminders to encourage teens to take breaks after 60 minutes of use and activate a “Sleep Mode” from 10 PM to 7 AM to mute notifications overnight.
At the launch event in Lagos on June 4, Meta’s Safety Policy Manager for Africa, Middle East, and Turkey, Sylvia Musalagani, emphasized the importance of these protections. “We want families to feel confident that teens can connect with friends and explore their interests safely,” she said.
The Nigerian government has welcomed the move, highlighting its alignment with national efforts to protect children online. Barrister Emmanuel Edet, Director of Regulations and Compliance at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), noted, “This policy supports our strategic goals on data privacy and child online protection, reinforcing the need for age-appropriate digital experiences.”
Parents will also have access to enhanced supervision tools, allowing them to monitor who their teens interact with, set daily time limits, schedule downtime, and view the topics their children are interested in, all while respecting message privacy.
Since Meta began rolling out Teen Accounts globally in September 2024, over 54 million teens have been enrolled, with most maintaining the default safety settings.
No doubt social media played a central role in young people’s lives, initiatives like Instagram Teen Accounts mark a significant step toward balancing connectivity with safety and well-being.
FG cracks down on bandits social media accounts
December 23, 2025
