Amid growing concern over teen safety online, Instagram head Adam Mosseri faced pointed questioning from lawmakers about how the app affects young users and what the company is doing to protect them. The exchange put fresh focus on a platform used by millions of adolescents and the policies that shape their daily online lives.
Instagram’s Adam Mosseri faced questioning about the impact of his platform on minors.
The hearing spotlighted a core issue: whether current features, policies, and enforcement are enough to reduce harms such as bullying, unwanted contact, and exposure to self-harm content. It also raised pressure on regulators to set clearer rules, and on parents and schools to help teens navigate social media safely.
Why this debate is back in the spotlight
Scrutiny of Instagram intensified after 2021 reports on internal research suggested some teens, especially girls, can feel worse about body image after using image-heavy feeds. That prompted public demands for stronger safeguards and more transparency about how recommendation systems work.
Use among teens remains high. Pew Research Center has reported that a majority of U.S. teenagers use Instagram, often daily. At the same time, federal data point to wider mental health challenges. The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey found rising rates of persistent sadness among teens in recent years, adding urgency to questions about online environments.
What lawmakers are asking for
Members of Congress pressed for clearer answers on design choices that keep young users engaged and on the tools available to reduce risks. The policy debate has centered on several themes:
- Age checks that work, and strict limits on contact from adults to minors.
- Default settings that minimize recommendations of sensitive topics to teens.
- Clear reporting pathways and fast action on harmful content.
- Data access for independent researchers to evaluate teen safety claims.
Some lawmakers also tied the issue to pending bills that would set national standards for platforms serving minors, reflecting a broader shift from voluntary measures to enforceable rules.
Instagram’s safety playbook—what exists today
Instagram has rolled out a set of features that the company says are designed to protect minors. These include “Take a Break” nudges, defaulting new teen accounts to more private settings, hidden word filters for direct messages, and parental supervision tools that allow adults to see time spent and set hours of use. The company has also limited direct messages from unknown adults to teens by default.
Critics say these measures are uneven in practice, and that content and accounts evading rules remain too easy to find. Supporters of the tools argue they give families more control while keeping space for teen expression and community. Both sides agree that consistent enforcement is key.
The evidence on social media and teen well-being
Research on social media’s effects is mixed. Some studies link heavy use to higher risks of anxiety and depression for some teens, while others find small or inconsistent effects overall. The American Psychological Association has urged a focus on how and why teens use platforms, not only how much.
Experts caution that teens are not a single group. Risks can differ by age, gender, and personal history. Visual filters, algorithmic recommendations, and social comparison can be especially sensitive areas for younger users. At the same time, many teens report benefits such as connection, identity exploration, and support networks.
What families and schools can do now
While policy and platform changes advance, households and educators can take steps that help today:
- Use parental supervision tools and set device-free times, especially at night.
- Turn on stricter content controls and limit DMs to known contacts.
- Encourage teens to curate feeds by muting or unfollowing harmful accounts.
- Teach media literacy: how algorithms work, how to spot manipulative content, and how to report abuse.
- Keep a shared “safety plan” for reporting, blocking, and documenting issues.
What to watch next
Expect more pressure for independent audits, stronger age assurance, and clearer data sharing with researchers. Lawmakers are signaling interest in setting baseline rules for teen design and privacy. For Instagram, the test will be whether its safeguards consistently reduce exposure to harmful content and unwanted contact.
The latest questioning puts a clear choice on the table: either platforms prove their protections work, or regulators will write the rules for them. For families, the takeaway is simple. Combine platform tools with steady guidance, and keep the conversation going. That may be the best defense until the policy debate yields lasting change.
