Instagram Modifies PG-13 References for Teen Accounts Following MPA Settlement

Instagram will modify its use of the Motion Picture Association's (MPA) PG-13 film rating in relation to its Teen Accounts, following a settlement reached with the MPA. The agreement, announced on Tuesday, requires Instagram's parent company, Meta, to "substantially reduce" references to the PG-13 mark and to include a disclaimer clarifying the differences between social media and movies. This change will take effect on April 15, 2026.

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In October 2025, Instagram introduced a revamped Teen Accounts feature, which it claimed would be guided by the MPA's PG-13 rating. This initiative aimed to reassure parents that content viewed by teens would be appropriate, mirroring the standards of PG-13 films regarding nudity, sexual expression, profanity, drug use, and violence. However, the MPA objected, asserting that Instagram's use of the PG-13 rating was misleading and sent a cease-and-desist notice to Meta shortly thereafter.

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As part of the settlement, Meta will implement a disclaimer stating: “There are lots of differences between social media and movies. We didn’t work with the MPA when updating our content settings, and they’re not rating any content on Instagram, and they’re not endorsing or approving our content settings in any way.” This disclaimer aims to clarify that Instagram's content moderation systems differ from traditional movie rating systems. A shorter version of the disclaimer will be used in limited space.

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Charles Rivkin, chairman and CEO of the MPA, emphasized the importance of distinguishing between the MPA's film ratings and Instagram's content moderation tools. He stated, “While we welcome efforts to protect kids from content that may not be appropriate for them, this agreement helps ensure that parents do not conflate the two systems – which operate in very different contexts.” A Meta representative expressed satisfaction with the resolution, noting that the company aims to help parents understand its teen content policies better.

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The MPA's initial objection highlights concerns about the potential for confusion among parents regarding content moderation on social media versus traditional film ratings. Critics argue that using a familiar rating system without proper context could mislead parents about the nature of content available on Instagram.

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The terms of the settlement will be implemented starting April 15, 2026. Meta has committed to ongoing efforts to support parents and provide age-appropriate experiences for teens on its platform, while the MPA will continue to uphold the integrity of its film rating system, which has been trusted by parents for nearly sixty years.

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• “Today’s agreement clearly distinguishes the MPA’s film ratings from Instagram’s Teen Account content moderation tools,” — Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the MPA

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• “We’re pleased to have reached an agreement with the MPA. By taking inspiration from a framework families know, our goal was to help parents better understand our teen content policies. We rigorously reviewed those policies against 13+ movie ratings criteria and parent feedback, updated them, and applied them to Teen Accounts by default. While that’s not changing, we’ve taken the MPA’s feedback on how we talk about that work. We’ll keep working to support parents and provide age-appropriate experiences for teens,” — Meta Representative

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