Parents Raj Goye, Robin Reiter, and Dominick Ciccareli joined ‘Fox & Friends’ to discuss Instagram’s new PG-13 setting, which aims to limit what minors can access on the platform. The feature, part of Instagram’s broader effort to combat cellphone addiction and protect young users from potentially harmful content, has sparked widespread discussion. The parents emphasized the need for parental controls and content moderation in digital spaces to ensure safer online environments for children. While some critics have raised concerns about over-restricting content, the majority of the public has welcomed the initiative as a step toward greater digital accountability. Instagram’s move has also prompted discussions about the role of social media in shaping youth behavior and the responsibility of tech companies to prioritize user safety.
Instagram’s decision to introduce the PG-13 setting comes amid growing pressure from parents, educators, and policymakers to regulate online activity for minors. The platform’s new policy requires accounts to have privacy settings that block content deemed inappropriate for children, including explicit material, hate speech, and violent imagery. Experts argue that such measures could help mitigate the negative effects of social media on mental health, particularly among teenagers. However, some privacy advocates have raised questions about the effectiveness of these controls and whether they could inadvertently limit access to valuable educational or creative content. Despite these concerns, the overwhelming sentiment from parents and educators is in favor of the new setting, viewing it as a necessary step in fostering healthier digital habits for young users.
As Instagram continues to refine its approach to child safety, the platform is expected to face ongoing scrutiny from regulators and the public. The parents featured on ‘Fox & Friends’ have called for further transparency in how these settings are implemented and enforced. Meanwhile, tech companies across the industry are being urged to adopt similar measures, highlighting the broader conversation about the responsibilities of social media platforms in the digital age. With the increasing integration of technology into daily life, the debate over content moderation, privacy controls, and the impact of social media on youth remains a critical issue for both policymakers and parents.