Meta will expand its teen-user protections by adding some default direct-message restrictions to several of its existing limits, where fewer people will be permitted to message teens in apps as well as new parenting tools through its Family Centre.

First, on DM restrictions. To build on its default DM controls for teens, which block adults that they do not follow from messaging them in the app, Instagram will now, by default, switch off the ability for all teen users to receive messages from anybody that they don't follow or aren't connected to in the app.
Soon, teens will automatically be restricted in who can send them DMs, with only those profiles that they follow able to send them a message. The change will also be enacted on Messenger, with only Facebook users that they're connected to, or have the phone contact of, able to send them a message.

Of course, these are the default settings and users can switch out of them if they wish to. But teens who have their profiles connected to theirs parents' through Meta's Family Center will now have to get explicit permission for updating these settings as well.
This is a great feature that will further assist parents in being reassured about whom their kids interact with through each of those apps. I mean it is going to create so much pain for teens many will just revert to using snapchat, but it provides youth with the extra security necessary to protect against unwanted contact or attention.

Another thing, instagram is trying image restrictions on users in their DMs :

"We're working on a new feature that will help protect teens from seeing unwanted and potentially inappropriate images in their messages from people they're already connected to, and discourage them from sending those types of images themselves. We'll have more to share on this feature, which will also work in encrypted chats, later this year."

That could reduce their and others' exposure through such overt messages, now much more common among teenage users.

These controls will make the parents feel much safer for their teens in using this app, which may, in turn help teen users avoid harm to which many are not aware until too late. Meta has been working with third-party advisory groups on enhancing the company's safety tools in such a regard and it's great to see the company still holding up to it.

With effect from today, new DM restrictions will be rolled out while Instagram will soon introduce its new filtering option on images.