Hong Kong parents to get alerts over teens’ self-harm searches on Instagram

Meta Platforms is introducing new Instagram alerts in Hong Kong to warn parents when their teenagers repeatedly search for terms related to suicide or self-harm. The alerts, set to launch this month, will notify parents via email, text message, WhatsApp or Instagram, depending on the parent's contact information. Parents supervising a teen's account will receive guidance on how to approach sensitive conversations.

The new measures are part of Meta's broader efforts to enhance parental controls and online safety for young users. Philip Chua, Meta's Asia-Pacific general manager for product public policy, emphasized the delicate balance between protecting teenagers and empowering parents to intervene. The alerts follow Meta's agreement to pay up to US$18 billion over a decade to settle lawsuits alleging the platforms were designed to addict children and misled the public about the risks to young users.

While the settlement remains subject to judicial approval, Meta has committed to implementing tighter safeguards, such as a default two-hour daily usage limit for teenagers and stronger age-verification measures. The Hong Kong roll-out builds on Meta's existing safeguards, which include age-appropriate content restrictions and limits on contact with strangers.

Meta also announced a comprehensive package of measures for Hong Kong parents and educators, including a digital safety toolkit, training for parent-teacher association representatives, and educational materials on screen time, cyber safety, and healthy digital habits.