Instagram

Private account for teens

Settings → Privacy → Account privacy → Private. Approve every follower. Non-negotiable for most minors.

Limit who can message

Settings → How others can interact with you → Messages. Restrict message requests; for younger teens consider Friends only / no requests from people they don't follow.

Turn on Supervision (Meta Family Center)

Parents can see time spent, who teens message (not full content on all features), and set limits. Set it up as a family agreement.

Hide Stories from people they don't know

Use Close Friends lists carefully. Review story privacy so strangers cannot watch daily location/life patterns.

Remove location tags and school info from bio

Bios listing school, town, and sports teams make offline targeting easier. Keep identity minimal.

Modeling / brand deals from strangers

Unsolicited 'agency' DMs asking for photos, ages, or WhatsApp contacts.

Older adult following only young teens

Check follower graphs. Pattern of adult accounts following many minors is a red flag.

Screenshot / leak threats

Sextortion scripts often start on IG then move to other apps.

Report and restrict/block

On profile or message → Report. Use Restrict if you need a quieter first step, then Block. Save screenshots first if sexual exploitation is involved.

CyberTipline + Take It Down

Sexual images of minors or nonconsensual intimate images of a child → CyberTipline and Take It Down.