- Official min age
- 13+
- Users
- 2 billion monthly active users
- Content types
- Photos Short-form video (Reels) Stories Live streaming Direct messaging
What is Instagram?
Instagram is a photo and video sharing platform owned by Meta (formerly Facebook). Users share images and videos to their profile feed, post short-lived Stories, create Reels (short-form videos), and broadcast live. It started as a photography app in 2010 and has evolved into one of the world's largest social networks.
The platform has a strong influencer culture and is central to how many young people consume lifestyle, fashion, fitness, and entertainment content. Instagram also has a significant shopping function, allowing brands to sell directly through the app.
What parents should know
Instagram has faced sustained criticism for its impact on the mental health of young people, particularly girls. Internal Meta research reportedly acknowledged the platform makes body image issues worse for a significant proportion of teenage girls. The visual nature of the platform, combined with filters and heavy editing, can fuel comparison and low self-esteem.
Although the minimum age is 13, Instagram has historically relied on self-reported age. Meta is rolling out Teen Accounts for under-16s, which apply more restrictive settings by default including limited DMs, filtered content, and screen time reminders.
Key risks include cyberbullying through comments or DMs, exposure to content promoting eating disorders or self-harm, contact from strangers, and the addictive nature of the scrolling feed. The Explore tab can surface content unrelated to accounts a child follows. Private accounts help limit who can see posts, but followers can still screenshot and share content.
Current trends on Instagram
No trends found