Instagram to Begin Parental Alerts of Teen Searches for Suicide or Self-Harm

The new parental alerts are expected to launch next week in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Instagram to Begin Parental Alerts of Teen Searches for Suicide or Self-Harm
The Instagram app logo, in this file photo. Carl Court/Getty Images
Mary Prenon
Mary Prenon
Freelance Reporter
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The social media platform Instagram is taking proactive steps to help prevent teen suicide or self-harm by alerting parents using its supervision features about their teens’ searches related to life-threatening topics.

In its Feb. 26 announcement, Instagram parent company, Meta, said it is creating these alerts to ensure parents are aware if their teen is repeatedly trying to search for this type of content, and to provide the resources they need to offer support to their child.
Mary Prenon
Mary Prenon
Freelance Reporter
Mary T. Prenon covers real estate and business. She has been a writer and reporter for over 25 years with various print and broadcast media in New York.