INTRODUCTION

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms among teenagers, offering a space for self- expression, connection, and exploration. While it provides opportunities for creativity and communication, it also presents risks, particularly for younger users who may not fully grasp the potential consequences of their online activities. As a parent, it’s crucial to be informed and proactive in guiding your teen's Instagram experience. This eBook provides comprehensive tools, strategies, and conversation starters to help you ensure your teen’s safety and well-being on Instagram.

CHAPTER ONE

Understanding Instagram and Its Impact on Teens WHAT IS INSTAGRAM? AGE RECOMMENDATIONS THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON TEEN MENTAL HEALTH Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social networking service that allows users to share moments, follow friends, celebrities, and influencers, and explore content from around the world. It’s a visually driven platform where users can post photos, videos, and Stories, interact through likes and comments, and engage with various content through hashtags and Explore pages. For teens, Instagram serves as a digital extension of their social life, making it important for parents to understand its features and the role it plays in their lives. While the legal minimum age for using Instagram is 13, experts recommend waiting until at least 16 before allowing teens to join social media platforms. The recommendation is based on the understanding that younger teens may lack the emotional maturity needed to handle the pressures and potential dangers of social media. Waiting until 16 can help ensure that teens are better equipped to navigate the complexities of online interactions. Research has shown a significant correlation between social media use and mental health issues among teens. Since the widespread adoption of smartphones and social media in the early 2010s, there has been a marked increase in rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide among teenagers. For instance, studies have found that the prevalence of major depressive disorders in teens has risen sharply since 2010, with girls being particularly affected. This chapter explores these trends and highlights the importance of mindful social media use.

CHAPTER TWO

Setting Up Instagram Safely PRIVACY SETTINGS FAMILY CENTER AND SUPERVISION TOOLS Ensuring that your teen’s Instagram account is private is the first step in safeguarding their online experience. A private account limits who can see your teen’s posts, follow them, and interact with them. To set up privacy, have your teen go to their profile page, tap on the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines), scroll down to ‘Account Privacy,’ and ensure it is set to ‘Private.’ This setting significantly reduces the risk of unwanted interactions and exposure to harmful content. Instagram’s Family Center and Supervision Tools offer parents a way to monitor and manage their teen’s activity on the platform. These tools allow you to: View how much time your teen spends on Instagram Set daily time limits and scheduled breaks Receive insights about filed reports your teen chooses to share View and receive updates on what accounts your teen follows and the accounts that follow your teen See your teen’s settings and be notified if a change is made to those settings To set up these tools, both you and your child need Instagram accounts, and you must follow each other. From your Instagram account, navigate to your profile Tap the menu icon Go to ‘Settings and Privacy,’ Select ‘Supervision,’ and follow the prompts to connect your child’s account. Once set up, you’ll be able to monitor their activity, manage settings, and receive notifications if changes are made. LOGGING IN AS YOUR CHILD While the Family Center is a valuable tool, it has limitations. For more comprehensive monitoring, consider logging into your child’s Instagram account on your own device. This allows you to mirror their activity and receive real-time notifications of any direct messages or interactions. To gain full transparency over what your teen is doing on Instagram, you can log into their account on your phone. This method allows you to see everything they see and receive the same notifications they do. To do this, go to your profile page, tap on your username, select ‘Add Instagram Account,’ and input your teen’s login information. Now, you can switch between your account and your teen’s account by tapping on your username and selecting from the list of logged-in accounts. This step gives you a more hands-on approach to monitoring their Instagram use. SETTING UP SUPERVISION TOOLS AND MANAGING SCREEN TIME Once you have access to your teen’s account, you can use Instagram’s built-in supervision tools. This includes setting daily time limits (from 15 minutes to two hours or completely off) and scheduling breaks. For example, you might block Instagram usage during school hours (e.g., 8 AM to 3 PM). SETTING UP SUPERVISION TOOLS AND MANAGING SCREEN TIME To do this: Go to the main supervision screen. Tap on 'Manage Time Limits' to set the daily time limit. Tap on 'Edit' under 'Take a Break' to set start and end times for breaks. You can also monitor who your teen is following and who is following them by tapping on any accounts to review their content. This comprehensive setup ensures your teen has a safer experience on Instagram. INSTAGRAM TEEN ACCOUNTS Instagram has introduced Teen Accounts for all users under 18, providing extra protection and privacy settings. Every new Instagram user under 18 is automatically enrolled in a Teen Account, which includes: Privacy and Content Restrictions: Teen Accounts limit the visibility of sensitive content and enforce private accounts by default. Messaging and Tagging Restrictions: Only users teens follow can message them, tag them, or mention them in posts. Enhanced Explore Options: Teens can tailor their feeds to topics they enjoy, creating a safer and more personalized experience. Parental Controls: Parents can approve settings changes, set screen time limits, and monitor who their teen interacts with, supporting a healthier so