Instagram's Plan To Protect The Next Generation: Interview with Tara Hopkins, Global Policy Director at Instagram

Join me as I sit down with Tara Hopkins, Global Director of Policy at Instagram, for an illuminating conversation about digital safety and parental peace of mind in today's social media landscape. Tara takes us behind the scenes of Instagram's Teen Accounts initiative - learn how these specialized accounts are automatically implementing protections that limit who can contact teens, the content they see, and provide parents with powerful supervision tools - including the ability to block Instagram usage during specific times and monitor messaging interactions. Tara fills me in on Meta's vision for creating safer digital spaces for young users, the development of the Screen Smart Program designed to help parents navigate difficult conversations about online safety, and the latest features being added to Teen Accounts. Whether you're a parent concerned about your child's current or future social media usage or interested in how platforms are evolving to address safety challenges, this conversation offers insights into how Meta is working to balance teen independence with necessary safeguards. 

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Instagram Teen Accounts —now expanding to Facebook and Messenger—are designed to give parents peace of mind that their teens are safer with the right protections in place. Learn more about Instagram Teen Accounts at https://about.fb.com/news/2025/04/introducing-new-built-in-restrictions-instagram-teen-accounts-expanding-facebook-messenger/.

Support your family’s online experience with expert guidance and tools from Meta’s Family Center. Explore resources today, including Meta’s Screen Smart Program, at https://familycenter.meta.com.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.