Listen up, tech-savvy fam - Meta’s finally stepping up its game in protecting Gen Z from the wild west of social media.

In a move that’s equal parts “we care” and “we’re covering our legal bases,” Instagram and Facebook are implementing some serious parental controls that might actually make your parents cool for once. Starting first in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, teens under 16 will now need parental permission to livestream and - get this - unblur potentially sus DM content.

The Digital Babysitter We Didn’t Know We Needed

Meta’s not just playing around. They’ve rolled out an entire teen account program that’s basically a digital chaperone. Private accounts by default? Check. Blocking random strangers from sliding into teens’ DMs? Double-check. Reminders to touch some grass after an hour of scrolling? Triple-check.

But Wait, There’s More

The platform isn’t just stopping at Instagram. Facebook and Messenger are getting the same teen-protection glow-up. With features like bedtime notifications and limits on fight videos, it’s like META finally realized teenagers might need some guardrails in their online playground.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Apparently, 54 million teen accounts have already signed up since September, proving that maybe, just maybe, both parents and teens are ready for a bit more digital responsibility. Who would’ve thought?

Stay safe out there, internet warriors - Big Tech is watching. And for once, that might not be the worst thing.