Instagram is about to start alerting parents over teens’ self-harm searches

Instagram is introducing new parental alerts that will notify parents if their teen repeatedly searches for terms related to self-harm within a short period of time.

In a blog post announcing the change, Meta states that the alerts will apply to teens enrolled in Instagram’s parental supervision tools.

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Attempted searches that could trigger an alert include phrases promoting suicide or self-harm, phrases suggesting a teen wants to harm themselves, and terms such as “suicide” or “self-harm”. The system is designed to activate after “a few searches within a short period of time”, rather than after a single search.

Parents will receive the alert via email, text, WhatsApp, or through a notification inside their own Instagram account, depending on their contact details. Tapping the alert opens a full-screen message explaining that their teen has repeatedly tried to search Instagram for terms associated with suicide or self-harm within a short period of time. Parents will also have the option to view expert resources designed to help them approach potentially sensitive conversations.

Meta said the alerts are designed to “err on the side of caution”, meaning some notifications may be sent even where there may not be a real cause for concern.

The feature will roll out next week to parents using Instagram’s supervision tools in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, and will become available in other regions later this year.

Meta also stated that it already blocks searches for terms clearly associated with suicide and self-harm, instead directing users to resources and local organisations that can help. It also hides certain self-harm-related content from teens, even if shared by someone they follow.

The company added that it is building similar parental alerts for certain AI experiences, which would also notify parents if a teen attempts to engage in conversations related to suicide or self-harm with its AI. More details are expected in the coming months.

The new alerts build on Instagram’s existing parental supervision system, which currently requires both a parent and teen to agree to enrol.

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Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.