TEEN SAFETY UPDATES

Instagram will start restricting direct messages between teen users and adults they do not follow as part of a broader set of teen-centered safety updates the platform announced Tuesday.

The feature will send adults who try to message a teen who doesn’t follow them a notification that direct messaging the teen user isn’t an option, Instagram said.

Why it’s needed: Instagram requires users to be at least 13 years old to make an account. But the company acknowledged that young users sometimes lie about their date of birth.

The privacy updates, using new artificial intelligence and machine learning technology, aim to help keep teens “safer” and apply “age-appropriate” features, according to the announcement.

The app will also prompt teen users to be more cautious about interactions in their direct messages through safety notices.