Youths (under 18)
Staying Safe on Instagram
Staying safe online
Setting privacy and safety controls
Instagram connects you with friends and influencers, and lets you share photos and videos. What you post, see and engage with can shape your online experience. Learning how Instagram works and adjusting your settings can help you stay safe online.
How can Instagram’s feed affect you?
Instagram shows you posts, stories and reels based on what you like, follow, comment on and watch. This means your activity influences what appears in your feed.
Even though Instagram has safety settings for younger users, you may still see content that:
Pressures you to look or act a certain way
Spreads harmful or misleading information
Involves cyberbullying, harassment or hurtful comments
Comes from fake accounts pretending to be someone you know
If your feed starts to make you feel uncomfortable or pressured, it may be time to adjust your settings to protect yourself.
What are Instagram’s default protections for younger users?
The minimum age to create an Instagram account in Singapore is 13 years old. Teen Accounts are Instagram accounts for users aged 13 to 17. Some privacy and safety settings are turned on by default for these accounts to give younger users extra protection.
Settings to encourage healthy screen habits
Push notifications are muted daily from 10pm to 7am
A reminder to close Instagram appears after a total of 60 minutes is spent on it each day
Settings to limit interactions with strangers
Teen Accounts are set to private by default
Only people you follow or have connected with can message you directly
Only people you follow can tag or mention you in posts
Only followers you follow back can remix your content
"Instagram Live" is not available
Filters to reduce inappropriate content
Content settings are set to “See Less” and “13+” to hide sensitive content and to only show content aligned with content ratings for ages 13 and above
Content from accounts that often share inappropriate content may be hidden and interactions with these accounts may be limited
Potentially offensive comments and message requests are hidden
Images detected as containing nudity are blurred in messages
"Supervision"
Your parents can link their accounts to yours by setting up "Supervision" to support your safety
How can you further protect yourself on Instagram?
Even with these protections in place, you may still want more control over what you see and who can interact with you.
Choose what you see
Tap “Not interested” on posts you do not want to see more of
Change your content setting to “Limited content” to further reduce inappropriate content
Filter comments, message requests or keywords that bother you
Reset your suggested content in settings
Control who can see your content and interact with you
Review the personal data visible on your account
Use the "Close Friends” feature to share certain content with a select group of people
Turn off comments or adjust audience settings for your posts and stories
Manage tags and decide who can mention or tag you
Choose who can see your activity status
Temporarily limit interactions to close friends or from recent followers
Leave group chats that make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe
Remove followers or block accounts you do not want to interact with
Watch your screen time
Set daily screen time limits to get a reminder when you have spent a certain amount of time on Instagram
Notice how Instagram makes you feel after long sessions
Take breaks when scrolling starts to feel overwhelming
What else can you do when something does not feel right?
Sometimes, certain content or interactions may cause discomfort and make you feel unsafe.
When that happens, remember:
You do not have to respond or explain yourself
Saving screenshots or links can help if you want to report harmful behaviour
Blocking or reporting is okay
Talking to a trusted adult, such as a parent, teacher or counsellor, can help you figure out next steps
Getting support early can prevent things from getting worse
Where can you learn more about Instagram’s safety tools?
Visit these resources to find out more about staying safe on Instagram:
Instagram Help Centre: Get help with your account, settings and security, and find answers to common questions
Instagram Safety Page: Explore safety, privacy and account security features on Instagram
You can also explore other online safety resources on our website for more advice on staying safe online.