Here’s how you can talk to your teenager about online safety

Without playing bad cop

A few years ago, the biggest worry that plagued parents was that their teenagers would break Navjyot uncle’s window panes while playing gully cricket. Or that they’d get abducted on the way back home from Preeti’s birthday party. Admittedly, those are still situations that can drive any parent into a maniacal frenzy. Except now, thanks to social media, their list of concerns has only grown ten-fold.

With the imminent risk of cyberbullying, online predators, and dangerous viral trends, let’s face it—teenagers are more vulnerable now than ever before. After speaking with parents, educators and policy makers across the world, Meta is taking steps to continue to ensure that their youngest users remain safe online with Instagram Teen Accounts.

This is a unique user experience for teens with hard defaults for those under 16 years of age which include default private account settings and restrictions on who can message, tag, or mention them. Teen accounts also have content filters that reduce their exposure to potentially harmful or sensitive material. For parents who worry about screen time, Teen Accounts will also send reminders to the user to close Instagram after an hour, and sleep mode will be activated between 10PM to 7AM every day.

All these settings get applied automatically, and teens will need parental permission to change them. If parents want more oversight over their older teens (16+) experiences, they simply have to turn on parental supervision.

Some of the new features include restrictions for 16-year-olds to go Live without a parent’s permission, and they also won’t be able to turn off the protection that hides unwanted images in DMs. Currently available only on Instagram, Teen Accounts will soon be expanded to Messenger and Facebook as well.

To raise awareness about this new feature, Meta organised a Teen Safety Forum on April 11, 2025, headlined by a panel discussion between Twinkle Khanna, author, columnist and founder of Tweak India, and Tara Hopkins, Global Director of Public Policy, Instagram. Attended by safety experts, parents, and educators, the panel delivered eye-opening insights and practical tips on keeping teens safe online.

“As a parent, I know how hard it can be to strike the right balance between giving your teen freedom and making sure they’re safe online,” says Khanna. “The Teen Accounts feature will give teens the tools to steer their own ship, while parents can keep an eye out to make sure they don’t crash into icebergs,” she adds.

As this feature continues to roll out, the big question is how do parents bring up the topic of Teen Accounts with their chronically online teenager. (Especially if they want to become an influencer) You know, the one where you basically turn into a monster for ‘taking away’ their online freedom? After all, there are few things teens loathe as much as their parents breathing down their necks.

If you’re left scratching your head and wondering how to break the ice, we’ve rounded up some advice from panelists and audience members to make this difficult conversation a little smoother for parents and teens alike.

Helping your child navigate the reel world

Start in the pre-teen years

Ask any architect and they’ll agree that laying a solid foundation is the most crucial part of erecting a building. Think of your relationship with your teenager as a bungalow you’re constructing. Sure, you can adorn its walls with artwork, but if its base is shaky, even the weakest of storms will make it crumble.

As one parent in the audience points out, “The conversation starts much earlier in the pre-teens, and not just in the teenage years. You have to sit with your child, talk about your own fears, and tell them you’re concerned about their online safety. That is when you start earning their trust.” So, take your time creating a strong relationship that is built on trust, respect, and safety before your child hits their terrible teens—you’ll thank yourself later.

Seek out resources

We get it—raising a teen is like trying to solve a crossword puzzle. Except, there are no right answers, and somehow, it’s always your fault. The good news is that there are plenty of resources online to hold your hand every step of the way. And when in doubt, don’t hesitate to rely on experts for some much-needed advice.

“There’s a bunch of resources we have on Meta’s Family Centre. They’ve also been translated into many languages—including 9 Indian languages—which will give parents tips about how to talk to their teens on some of these topics,” says Hopkins. From preventing sextortion to talking to a teenager about online safety, there’s a guide for practically every issue they may encounter online.

Choose the right occasion

Have you ever accidentally ruined a perfectly good dinner by bringing up a topic that’s a sore point for your teen? Only for them to scowl, thrust aside the methi matar malai you spent hours whipping up, and slam their bedroom door. Remember that the occasion you choose to have a conversation can be a make or break factor, so choose wisely.

“Maybe wait till you’re in the car with them to have that conversation, rather than over the dinner table, which can feel quite confronting,” explains Hopkins. “When you see the pop-up on your screen saying ‘Your son wants to have a public account. Are you okay with that?’ That’s hopefully [another] moment when you can have a conversation about it [Instagram Teen Accounts],” she explains. So, if you’re gearing up to have the talk, don’t hesitate to spend some time thinking about the setting. A quiet walk at the park, a car ride, or a coffee shop are great options to set the pace.