Instagram Introduces New Feature to Alert Parents of Teen's Self-Harm Searches

Instagram has introduced a new feature that alerts parents if their teenager searches for self-harm or suicide content on the platform. The feature, which is set to roll out next week, will send parents an alert when their child repeatedly tries to search for terms clearly associated with self-harm or suicide.

The new feature is part of Instagram's efforts to promote online safety and well-being, particularly among teenagers. According to a report by The Verge, the feature will be rolled out globally, although the exact date of the rollout has not been confirmed.

The feature is designed to provide parents with an opportunity to have a conversation with their child about online safety and well-being. It is also intended to help parents identify potential warning signs of self-harm or suicidal behavior in their child.

Instagram has faced criticism in the past for its handling of self-harm and suicidal content on the platform. In 2020, the company faced a lawsuit from a group of parents who claimed that the platform had failed to remove self-harm content from the site.

The new feature is seen as a positive step by many experts, who believe that it has the potential to help reduce the incidence of self-harm and suicidal behavior among teenagers. However, some experts have also raised concerns about the potential for the feature to be used as a form of surveillance, rather than a tool for promoting online safety and well-being.

The feature will be rolled out next week, although the exact date of the rollout has not been confirmed. Parents will be notified when the feature is available, and will be able to opt-out of receiving alerts if they choose to do so.

Sources

[1] Instagram now alerts parents if their teen searches for suicide or self-harm content
[2] Instagram will alert parents if their kids ‘repeatedly’ search for self-harm topics