Meta has updated Teen Accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger to strengthen online safety for minors in the Philippines. The changes were announced at a Screen Smart event in Makati.
Teen Accounts now default to stricter privacy settings. Teens must approve new followers, can only get messages from people they follow, and can only be tagged or mentioned by those they follow. These rules apply to users aged 13 to 17.
Parents also gain more control. They can set daily time limits and turn on a new “sleep mode” that mutes notifications overnight. The feature also sends automatic replies to direct messages, helping teens disconnect during rest hours.
Meta’s Asia Pacific safety policy head said the updates align with the Philippines’ digital safety agenda. The move responds to growing demand from families, educators, and policymakers for stronger protections online.
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The Philippine government is keen on protecting minors on social media. In February, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Meta signed an agreement for a safer internet in the Philippines.
In April, Senate Bill No. 2066, also called the Social Media Safety for Children Act, was filed. The proposal sets a minimum age of 16 for social media use in the country.
