Instagram's minimum age is 13, or the minimum legal age where you live if that is higher. Teen Accounts for ages 13–17 start private, with tighter messages, a 60-minute reminder, and sleep mode. Supervision is optional, only one parent can supervise, and either of you can end it.
Minimum age we could verify: 13. At least 13, or the minimum legal age in your country if that is higher.
Either of you can send the invite. It expires in 7 days. One invite can cover Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, Threads, and Meta Horizon. If a teen under 16 removes supervision, their settings go back to the Teen Account defaults (unless they're already stricter). A 16- or 17-year-old keeps their current settings and can loosen them without you. You can't see their messages or search history.
Set up supervision, and say what you will see
Both of you together · ages 13–17 · checked 30 Sep 2026
You can see time spent, followers, who they chat with, and blocked accounts. You see chat usernames from the last 7 days, not the messages and not group names. You can't see their messages or search history, post for them, or reset their password. If a teen under 16 removes supervision, their settings go back to the Teen Account defaults (unless they're already stricter). A 16- or 17-year-old keeps their current settings and can loosen them without you. They have 24 hours to undo removing supervision.
- Go to familycenter.meta.com/supervision, tap Get started, choose the profile, and send the invite.
- On your phone: profile, Menu, Supervision for Teen Accounts.
- Tell them what you will see before they accept. Only one parent can supervise.
Keep the Teen Account private
Both of you together · ages 13–17 · checked 30 Sep 2026
New Teen Accounts are private by default. Some 16–17-year-olds who already had a public account may still be public, so check it. Tags and mentions start limited to people they follow. Hidden Words is on, and nudity in messages is blurred.
- Confirm the account is still private.
- Leave Hidden Words on.
Keep messages limited to people they know
Both of you together · ages 13–17 · checked 30 Sep 2026
Message requests come only from people the teen follows or is connected with. You can see who they chat with. You cannot read the chats.
- Confirm messaging is still limited to people they follow or are connected with.
Leave the content setting at 13+
Both of you together · ages 13–17 · checked 30 Sep 2026
The content setting starts at “Ages 13+.” Making it less strict needs a parent's permission for anyone under 18. Under 16, loosening safety settings needs you, and if you say no they cannot change those settings until 16.
- Leave the content setting at Ages 13+ unless you have a reason to approve a change.
- Under 16, a declined request blocks further safety-setting changes until they turn 16.
Set a daily limit and sleep mode
On your phone · ages 13–17 · checked 30 Sep 2026
Sleep mode starts at 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. There is a 60-minute daily reminder. You can remind them or block the app when time is up. They can ask for more time.
- More, Settings, Supervision for Teen Accounts, choose the teen, then Time management.
- Choose remind or block for the daily limit, and the same for sleep mode.
Leave live broadcasts off
Both of you together · ages 13–17 · checked 30 Sep 2026
Starting a live broadcast is off by default on Teen Accounts. Meta has said this is still rolling out, so confirm it on the account.
- Confirm going live is off. If the switch is missing, the rollout may not have reached this account yet.
How we check lists what was left off Instagram.
Build a plan that includes Instagram