14 DAY TRIAL // At this point, children under the age of 13 aren’t allowed to connect to Instagram, and if you’re being using the app at least once, you probably know this is just the right approach.
But on the other hand, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s impossible for someone below that age to actually start using Instagram. Lying about the age is still too easy, and the Facebook-owned company is working not only on new age verification methods but also on something that would make Instagram a safer place for kids.
Idea still in its early phases
More specifically, it’s an Instagram version for kids under the age of 13, with an internal announcement obtained by BuzzFeed confirming this is an idea the company is actively pursuing as we speak.
“I’m excited to announce that going forward, we have identified youth work as a priority for Instagram and have added it to our H1 priority list,” Vishal Shah, Instagram’s vice president of product, was quoted as saying by the cited source.
“We will be building a new youth pillar within the Community Product Group to focus on two things: (a) accelerating our integrity and privacy work to ensure the safest possible experience for teens and (b) building a version of Instagram that allows people under the age of 13 to safely use Instagram for the first time.”
At this point, however, this idea of making Instagram a safer place for kids is still in its early days, so the company doesn’t yet have a specific ETA as to when it could launch in mind. But on the other hand, it’s very clear Facebook has already noticed there’s more potential for growth in this area, especially if the company manages to find a way to put parents in full control over the content accessed by their kids.