Instagram : Tips for Parents (privacy/ safety/ reporting/ blocking)
Basic Info
What is Instagram?
Instagram is a free photo and video sharing app available on Apple iOS, Android and Windows Phone. People can upload photos or videos to our service and share them with their followers or with a select group of friends. They can also view, comment and like posts shared by their friends on Instagram. Anyone 13 and older can create an account by registering an email address and selecting a username.
Want to learn more? Here are some of our popular help topics:
- Instagram’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Use.
- Sign up for an Instagram account.
- Delete an account.
- Information for Law Enforcement.
Can I have access to my teen’s Instagram account?
We appreciate your concern for your child’s use of our app, but unfortunately we can’t give you access to the account or take any action on the account at your request. We’re generally forbidden by privacy laws against giving unauthorized access to someone who isn’t an account holder.
Please note that all users ages 13 and older are considered authorized account holders and are included in the scope of this policy.
Download “A Parent’s Guide to Instagram”
We know many parents and guardians think about what their teens are doing online, and we feel a great responsibility to make sure Instagram is a positive place for them to connect and share. That’s why we created this guide, which was developed and localized with the help of safety and parenting organizations around the world.
This resource focuses on three things: how to manage privacy, interactions and time on Instagram. It also includes the basics of our app, and a description of our tools, plus a discussion guide for how parents and guardians can have an open conversation with their teens about Instagram.
Download the guide below for more information:
- United States (English)
- United Kingdom (English)
- France (French)
- Germany (German)
- Hungary (Hungarian)
- Italy (Italian)
- Japan (Japanese)
- Korea (Korean)
- Macedonia (Macedonian)
- Portugal (Portuguese)
- Slovenia (Slovenian)
- Spain (Spanish)
- Sweden (Swedish)
- New Zealand (English)
Privacy and Safety
Privacy and Safety Tips for Instagram
To learn more about staying safe on Instagram, visit: https://wellbeing.instagram.com/safety.
Who can see my teen’s photos on Instagram?
Anyone on Instagram can view photos or videos on someone’s public profile. However, there are several ways your teen can make their account more private.
Set photos and videos to private
If your teen sets their photos and videos to private, only approved followers will be able to see them. Anyone who wants to see your teen’s photos and videos will have to send them a follower request which your teen can then approve or ignore.
Remove followers
If your teen has set their photos and videos to private, they’ll be able to remove followers.
Block people
Your teen can also block people on Instagram. When they block another person, that person can’t view your teen’s photos or videos or search for their Instagram account.
Learn more about how people can control their visibility on Instagram.
How can I get an image of my child removed from Instagram?
Instagram removes posts that don’t follow our Terms of Use, based on laws in specific jurisdictions.
If you have an Instagram account, you can report a post from within the app or fill out this form.
Keep in mind that people own the rights to all images they’ve taken and shared with Instagram. If there’s no violation of our Community Guidelines or Terms, we can’t help you directly unless required to do so by law.
Why was an image that I posted on Instagram of my child removed?
We know and appreciate that many parents use Instagram to capture and share photos of their children. However, images that show nudity may be removed because they don’t follow our Community Guidelines.
We understand that people have different ideas about what’s okay to share on Instagram and that many people share things with good intentions. To help keep Instagram a fun and safe place, we require everyone to follow our Community Guidelines and we may remove content to help keep others from possibly reusing these types of images in inappropriate ways.
Reporting
How can I or my teen report abusive behavior or inappropriate/offensive material on Instagram?
We ask that all people follow our Community Guidelines and Terms of Use. If your teen encounters someone on Instagram who’s not following these guidelines or Terms, they can report that person’s posts directly from Instagram.
People can report abusive behavior or posts with our built-in reporting. This includes nude photos, abuse and excessive spam. Reporting is totally anonymous. No information about the reporter is sent to the person whose account or photo has been reported.
To report a photo:
- Tap (iPhone and Windows Phone) or(Android) above the photo you’d like to report and then tap Report.
To report a comment:
- Tap below the image, swipe left (iPhone) or tap (Android) on the comment you’d like to report, tap ! and then choose Spam or Scam or Abusive Content.
Please also talk to your kids and educate them about internet safety. If they’re experiencing abuse from other people on Instagram, ask them to use blocking and our privacy settings.
There are also lots of great online resources with more information for parents on bullying:
It’s important to note that if your teen is a victim of abusive behavior on our service, we’re unable to provide non-public information (like the offending person’s email address) without a search warrant or subpoena from law enforcement. If there’s an emergency, we suggest contacting your local police department. Get more information about law enforcement.
How do I report a child under the age of 13 on Instagram?
Instagram requires everyone to be at least 13 years old before they can create an account (in some jurisdictions, this age limit may be higher). Accounts that represent someone under the age of 13 must clearly state in the account’s bio that the account is managed by a parent or manager. If your child is younger than 13 and has an account that isn’t managed by you or a manager, you can show them how to delete their account.
If you’d like to report an account belonging to someone under 13 or if you believe someone is impersonating your child who’s under 13, please fill out this form. We will delete the account if we can’t verify the account is managed by someone over 13 years old.
Reporting harassment or bullying on Instagram.
If an account is established with the intent of bullying or harassing another person or if a photo or comment is intended to bully or harass someone, please report it. You can also learn what to do if you think someone is pretending to be you or someone else on Instagram.
Once you’ve reported the abuse, consider blocking the person.
Learn how to report other accounts or posts that don’t follow our Community Guidelines.
