Last updated: March 2026
Scoring Categories
Age Verification
Some AI-based age estimation rolling out. Still largely self-reported.
DM Restrictions
Adults cannot DM teens who don't follow them. Good but imperfect.
Abuse Response Time
Improved response times but still inconsistent.
Parental Controls
Supervision tools allow parents to set time limits and view activity.
Offender Removal
Proactive detection improving. Cross-platform bans with Facebook.
Known Grooming Tactics on This Platform
Story reply grooming
Predators reply to children's stories with compliments to initiate seemingly innocent DM conversations.
Follow-for-follow schemes
Groomers exploit the desire for followers by offering follow-backs in exchange for personal information or photos.
Close Friends list manipulation
After building trust, predators add children to Close Friends to share exclusive content and create a sense of special connection.
Parental Control Setup Guide
- 1
Set your child's account to Private under Settings > Privacy > Account Privacy.
- 2
Set up Supervision through the Family Center to monitor activity and set time limits.
- 3
Disable message requests from non-followers under Settings > Privacy > Messages.
- 4
Enable Sensitive Content Control and set it to "Less" under Settings > Suggested Content.
Report a Concern
If you've witnessed predatory behavior or a safety issue on Instagram, submit a report below. All reports are reviewed by our research team.