We should all be teens.
“Maybe we should all be teens. Or at least have teen safeguards ... A little timeless wisdom” Arianna Huffington mantra via Instagram, Sept 19, 2024.
There have not been many times watching my teenagers that I would ever want to be one, but this mantra really spoke to me and almost a week later I can’t stop thinking about it. She was not referring to the highs and lows and hormones and other teen growth, but instead was referring to the new Instagram teen settings rolled out earlier this month.
From Instagram “With Instagram Teen Accounts, teens automatically get safety settings that limit contact and inappropriate content, as well as settings to ensure their time on Instagram is well spent. These built-in default settings include private accounts, restrictions on messaging, restrictions on who can tag and mention them, reminders to leave the app after 60 minutes each day, notifications muted overnight and more.”
As part of these settings, not only do they limit contacts and content, but there are built in app usage limitations - both quantity of time and time of day. As my kids grew into electronics and social media, I recognize that I went pretty far on the controlling and monitoring side. They didn’t have phones until they were 14 and they still can’t use them in the car unless we are on a road trip, because I don’t get that many built in opportunities for conversations. Their devices have app restrictions. This has created an enormous amount of discomfort between us including the Christmas morning eruption because my 17 year old couldn’t download an app associated with a present on his iphone. The truth is that I ALSO have app restrictions. My adult friends struggle with limiting their time. It is truly too easy. I’m glad to see Instagram creating these teen defaults and I agree with Arianna.
