Pinterest Introduces Safety Controls for Teens After NBC News Investigation

Source: Pinterest

Pinterest will soon add safety controls for teens. Users under 16 will have private accounts with boards and Pins that are not visible or accessible to others. There will also be parental controls that require a passcode for teens to update certain account settings. Age verification will be expanded by requiring users under 18 who attempt to change their birth date to send additional information, like a government ID or birth certificate, to a third-party verification partner.

These updates come after an NBC News investigation revealed online predators using Pinterest inappropriately. While these new safety measures are a good step, more is needed to better protect teens across all social media platforms. Teen safety and privacy have been a hot topic, with governing bodies, parents, and even teens themselves pushing for reform. For example, Utah recently signed a bill that limits how children can use social media.