Meta is testing new restrictions on Instagram that limit how often teens see posts about anxiety, weightlifting, nutrition, and other body image or mental health content. These changes target the platform's recommendation algorithms in feeds, Explore, and Reels sections. The company wants to prevent excessive exposure to topics that don't violate rules but could impact younger users when viewed frequently.

The move follows Meta's previous attempts to block sexually suggestive content and mature search terms like alcohol and gore queries. Last year, Meta compared teen accounts to PG-13 movies, a characterization the Motion Picture Association rejected. Instagram has faced ongoing criticism about algorithmic rabbit holes that repeatedly surface potentially harmful content to vulnerable users.

This content moderation effort connects to a civil trial over social media addiction in Los Angeles, where a jury ruled against Meta. The company faces increasing pressure to address mental health concerns among teenage users while maintaining engagement metrics.

Meta plans to extend these restrictive settings to Facebook and Messenger later this year, creating a more consistent approach across its platforms. The changes represent an acknowledgment that repeated exposure to certain content types may harm teen wellbeing, even when individual posts comply with community guidelines.