Instagram’s new PG-13 system for teens marks the company’s most significant step yet toward embracing the “Safety by Design” philosophy, a concept long championed by child safety advocates.
“Safety by Design” is the principle that safety features should be built into the core architecture of a product from the beginning, rather than being added on as optional, after-the-fact controls. The new “13+” setting, being the mandatory default for all teens, is a prime example of this philosophy in action.
Instead of placing the burden on users to find and activate safety settings, this new model makes the safer option the standard experience. The burden is now shifted to those who wish to have less safety, and even then, it requires parental approval.
This approach directly addresses the primary criticism of the platform’s previous efforts: that optional tools are often ignored, unknown, or ineffective, leaving children vulnerable by default. It reflects a shift in thinking from “user responsibility” to “platform responsibility.”
While this is a major move toward “Safety by Design,” advocates will be watching to see if this philosophy is applied more broadly across Meta’s products. They see this as a critical first step, but argue that true commitment would involve applying this principle to algorithmic recommendations, data privacy, and other core aspects of the platform.