Instagram’s decision to implement a default PG-13 setting for teens is poised to create a significant shift in the platform’s entire content ecosystem, affecting not just what teens see, but what creators produce.
With millions of teenage users now behind a more restrictive filter, creators who target this demographic will face a new reality. Content that features strong language, edgy humor, or depictions of risky activities may see its reach among under-18s drastically reduced.
This could incentivize a shift toward more “brand-safe” or “family-friendly” content, as creators adapt their strategies to remain visible to this valuable audience. The platform’s algorithms, by deprioritizing certain content for teens, will effectively reward creators who adhere to the new PG-13 standard.
This could lead to a bifurcation of content on Instagram, with a cleaner, more sanitized stream of content aimed at the youth market, and a more unrestricted stream for adults. This has implications for creativity and expression on the platform.
The long-term effect could be a “sanitization” of a significant portion of Instagram’s culture, driven by the platform’s new architectural choices. The future of the feed, at least for teens, is set to be a much more managed and predictable place.