The Brazilian government has revised its minimum age recommendation when it comes to accessing Instagram. In a decision taken last month, Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security has pushed the minimum age limit from 14 to 16.
Why this change? Well, the decision was based on the kind of content being offered on the Meta-owned social media service. As per a report from The Rio Times, the ministry said that on a broader level, the presence of the following categories of content on Instagram – sex, nudity, violence, and drugs usage – as well as how frequently and strongly these themes appear on the platform, was the trigger point behind this change.
A detailed breakup of the content categories was also provided. Here’s the relevant excerpt from the report:
Officials identified content categories that included intentional death, mutilation, cruelty, nudity, eroticization, intense sexual relations, complex sexual situations, explicit sex, and illicit drug use
This change means that the Instagram download page on Google Play and Apple App Store will now show an age recommendation of 16+ instead of 14+, helping parents decide whether or not to give their kids access to the app.
When Meta was contacted for a comment on the matter, the company said it already has safeguards in place that make sure teens aren’t exposed to such content. Their statement also noted the presence of Teen Accounts, which the company launched last year to provide young users an extra layer of safety against mature themes.
However, the Brazilian government made it clear their decision doesn’t consider these safeguards, and is solely based on the kind of content available to Brazilian users on Instagram.
While one of the biggest markets for social media platforms, Brazil is not the only country taking steps to protect their young citizens from the perils of easy social media access. Australia, for example, has been in the news for their Online Safety Act, which mandates social media platforms to not allow teens below 16 any kind of access to their platforms.
Over in Europe also things are heating up on this front. France, for example, is also considering banning social media access to kids under 15, while Spain is looking forward to bump the minimum age up to 16. In fact, as I reported yesterday, the European Union itself is considering coming up with a Digital Majority Age which Meta is supporting.
It’s not wrong to assume that technology companies (and bnusinesses in general), no matter what they do on this front, will always put profits first. So, it’s good to see governments taking the matter in their own hands. As I highlighted in a separate coverage yesterday, recent surveys show social media is one of the biggest factors when it comes to mental health in teenagers, so its regulation is the need of the hour.
What are your thoughts on the matter? Feel free to share them in the comments section below.
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Himanshu Arora
288 Posts
I have been writing tech-focused articles since 2010. In my around 15 years of experience so far, I have written for many leading publications, including Computerworld, GSMArena, TechSpot, HowtoForge, LinuxJournal, and MakeTechEasier to name a few. I also co-founded PiunikaWeb, which went on to become a huge success within 5 years of its inception. Here at TechIssuesToday, I aim to offer you helpful information in a way that you won't find anywhere else easily.
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