Under the update, no one who a teenager doesn’t follow will be able to send them direct messages even if the sender is a verified account, brand, or influencer.
Restrictions on adults have also been tightened. Adults who are not followed by the teen will be prevented from messaging them, especially if they’ve shown suspicious behavior or have been previously reported.
This update is part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to make Instagram “safer by default” for teenagers by strengthening privacy settings and warning users of potential risks, in response to increasing legislative pressure in the U.S. and Europe.