Meta’s new tools allow parents to better supervise their kids’ social media accounts. Will they work?

Tech giant Meta recently announced a set of new features to give parents greater oversight of how their children use Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Horizon.

This follows the company’s announcement earlier this month that it is expanding age assurance checks to filter 13-to-17-year-old users into teen accounts in the United States and other countries, following Australia’s rollout in 2025. Meta is also implementing new age checks and easier reporting of underage users to support account removals.

These changes come as Meta faces increasing pressure internationally to do more to keep kids safe on its platforms.

So what exactly are the changes? And will they likely work to reduce online harm?

Enlisting AI to search for clues

Meta’s new age checks will use “visual clues” about a user’s age, such as height and bone structure, alongside analysis of social media posts and interactions, to estimate a person’s age.

Using new techniques powered by artificial intelligence (AI), the company will scan photos, videos and content on users’ profiles – including bios, captions, and comments – to estimate their age. By looking for clues such as mentions of birthday parties or school grades, Meta plans to deactivate accounts for those believed to be under 13.

However, given the known limitations of age assurance technologies, and the compliance concerns raised with Australia’s social media ban, many underage children remain active on social media platforms. What is unclear about these new “clues” is whether and how teens may be able to circumvent these new controls by ensuring their platform content gives the appearance of older, adult material.

Meta’s new process for reporting underage accounts is likely intended to address this concern.

Easier reporting of underage accounts will augment content scanning, providing another avenue to identify underage accounts. This will also use AI, alongside human reviewers. Meta says this will ensure reports are “addressed with more speed and reliability”.

Meta explains that users who are reported to be underage, inaccurately, will be able to undergo age checks to retain their accounts.

A consolidated ‘Family Centre’

Meta’s new “Family Centre” will consolidate parental supervision tools for Facebook, Instagram, Horizon, and Messenger in one place.

Through the “Family Centre”, Meta will start sending parents notifications when their teens add new topics and interests across platforms – such as photography, sports, or beauty.

Meta says this will enable parents to “stay informed” and have “meaningful conversations” with their children about the general topics they follow.

However, under Australia’s social media restrictions, children under 16 are not allowed to hold social media accounts.

This means, in Australia, topic access will only be available to parents of teens aged 16 and 17 on Instagram and Facebook. But this access will not be automatic. Parents will need to send an invitation to their teens, asking to supervise their accounts, which teens must accept.

This means children can refuse to provide access and not provide topic visibility to their parents.

This is an important limitation. It means children can retain privacy for their account content if they choose. Under article 16 of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child, every child has the right to privacy and the right to get information from the internet and other sources.

For those who accept a parent’s invitation, Meta’s changes may introduce some privacy risks. But limiting access to general topics does preserve some privacy, as specific conversations and materials cannot be accessed.

Parents will need to be proactive

This new parental supervision feature will only be successful if parents and teens choose to use it. Parents will need to be proactive, to request access and (if approved by the teen) review the topics. Parents will also need to start conversations with their children to determine the nature of the content within those general topics.

For example, a 2025 study showed a link between frequent social media use and negative body image. It highlighted the need for “support from parents […] to mitigate these effects”.

But a general topic such as “beauty” cannot distinguish between helpful makeup tips and content promoting unrealistic beauty ideals. Similarly, a general topic such as “sports” cannot discern potentially harmful gender stereotypes affecting young athletes.

Understanding the potential risks and harms of social media content requires parents to actively view – and discuss – that content with their teens.

In 2024, Meta’s then global affairs chief Nick Clegg explained that “even when we build these controls, parents don’t use them”.

A 2023 evidence review showed that while parents with higher levels of digital literacy are more likely to use safety controls, the results of doing so are mixed. While some studies show beneficial outcomes when safety controls are used (for example, reducing risks such as cyberbullying), others show no positive outcomes, or even adverse effects (for example, increasing family conflict).

Given Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has put several social media companies on notice for compliance concerns with Australia’s social media ban, it may come as no surprise Meta is introducing these changes.

Yet, their success relies significantly on parents’ abilities – and children’s willingness – to engage with these controls. Given the technical limitations of age assurance technologies, and teens’ determination to remain on social media platforms, these are likely not foolproof solutions.