Instagram is rolling out a new feature that could help parents identify when their teen may be struggling. It will notify parents if their teen repeatedly searches for terms related to suicide or self-harm within a short period of time.
Starting this week, Instagram will notify parents if their teen repeatedly searches for terms related to suicide or self-harm within a short period of time. The alerts only go to parents already enrolled in Instagram ’s parental supervision program.
The alerts are sent by email, text, or WhatsApp — and through the app itself. Parents who tap the notification receive a full explanation of what triggered it, along with expert resources to help guide a conversation with their teen. Instagram says it already blocks suicide and self-harm related searches from appearing in teen accounts, directing users to helplines instead. The new alerts add another layer, giving parents the opportunity to step in directly. Psychologist Dr. Josh Klapow says the feature addresses one of the biggest barriers parents face: knowing when to act. “This is one of those topics where we feel that it’s delicate — but it’s not so delicate that we can’t talk about it. And that is often the problem,” Dr. Klapow said.“When that flag comes through, parents are warned and given resources — information about self-harm, numbers to call, websites to visit. So it’s all consolidated for parents there,” he said. Some critics have raised concerns that monitoring teens’ searches could do more harm than good, potentially driving behavior underground if teens know they’re being watched.“There is a big difference between invading privacy and protecting our teens,” he said.“There should be no sneaking around. Teens should know parents are enrolling and that they’re going to get flagged if there is concern that there may be self-harm,” Dr. Klapow said.“We have enrolled in the warning system that Meta has on your phone. If we are concerned about you — we love you. If you’re thinking about harming yourself, we want to know, because we want to help you,” he said. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, acknowledges the system may sometimes notify parents when there is no real cause for concern — what the company calls “false positives.” But Meta says it believes erring on the side of caution is the right approach.A trial underway in Los Angeles is examining whether Meta’s platforms, including Instagram, deliberately addict and harm minors. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has disputed those claims, saying the existing body of scientific research has not proved that social media causes mental health harms. The alerts are currently available in the U.S., United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, with more countries expected later this year. Dr. Klapow says parents don’t need to wait for a notification to start the conversation and reminds families that help is available right now.“It’s not just for the person who is in crisis,” Dr. Klapow said. “It’s for family members and friends who don’t know what to do — to give them information.”Judge sentences admitted drug dealer from Semmes who challenged asset seizures16-year-old charged with DUI in ATV crash that killed her best friend, authorities sayMobile County EMA, EMS to hold multiagency training Saturday
Teen Self Harm Suicide Parents Social Media Meta 988 Notifications Wbrc Wbrc News Fox6 Fox6 News Fox 6 Fox 6 News Wbrc Fox6 News Wbrc Fox 6 News Wbrc 6News Wbrc 6 News Myfoxal Dr. Josh Klapow Dr. Klapow Abby Haymond Abby Haymond Abby Haymond Wbrc Wbrc Abby Haymond Abby Haymond Reporter Reporter Abby Haymond Suicide Crisis Hotline Suicide Hotline Mental Health Mental Health Crisis Suicide And Crisis Lifeline Instagram Ig Facebook Instagram Self-Harm Feature Instagram Parental Supervision Program
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