Meta has agreed to substantially reduce its reference to the PG-13 ratings system for its Teen Accounts on Instagram starting April 15. This decision follows a cease-and-desist letter from the Motion Picture Association (MPA) last year, which objected to Meta’s claim that its teen accounts aligned with PG-13 media ratings.
The MPA stated that asserting a connection between Instagram’s teen accounts and PG-13 ratings was “literally false and highly misleading.” The association raised concerns that such statements could harm its public image by suggesting that the two systems were compatible when they are not. The MPA emphasized that Meta’s use of artificial intelligence to control content visibility for younger users adds another layer of complexity to content moderation.
In its communications regarding the changes, Meta previously indicated that the likelihood of encountering suggestive content in a PG-13 movie mirrored the potential risks on Instagram’s teen accounts. The company proposed this analogy as a framing device to communicate content moderation, stressing its commitment to minimizing inappropriate content.
Following the agreement with the MPA, Meta updated its blog to clarify its content settings. The update includes a disclaimer stating the significant differences between social media and film ratings. It explicitly mentions that the MPA did not contribute to the content changes and does not endorse or approve any content on Instagram.
Meta indicated that while it drew inspiration from MPA guidelines based on parental feedback and familiarity, future communications will avoid making explicit connections between their platforms and traditional movie ratings.
Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the MPA, confirmed that the agreement differentiates the MPA’s film ratings from Instagram’s content moderation practices. He stated, “Today’s agreement clearly distinguishes the MPA’s film ratings from Instagram’s Teen Account content moderation tools.” Rivkin expressed the MPA’s commitment to protecting parental trust built over nearly sixty years regarding the film rating system.
