Instagram parent company Meta has introduced new safety features aimed at protecting teens who use its platforms, including information about accounts that message them and an option to block and report accounts with one tap.
The company also announced Wednesday that it has removed thousands of accounts that were leaving sexualized comments or requesting sexual images from adult-run accounts of kids under 13. Of these, 135,000 were commenting and another 500,000 were linked to accounts that “interacted inappropriately,” Meta said in a blog post.
The heightened measures arrive as social media companies face increased scrutiny over how their platform affects the mental health and well-being of younger users. This includes protecting children from predatory adults and scammers who ask — then extort— them for nude images.
Meta said teen users blocked more than a million accounts and reported another million after seeing a “safety notice” that reminds people to “be cautious in private messages and to block and report anything that makes them uncomfortable.”
Earlier this year, Meta began to test the use of artificial intelligence to determine if kids are lying about their ages on Instagram, which is technically only allowed for those over 13. If it is determined that a user is misrepresenting their age, the account will automatically become a teen account, which has more restrictions than an adult account. Teen accounts are private by default. Private messages are restricted so teens can only receive them from people they follow or are already connected to. In 2024, the company made teen accounts private by default.
Meta faces lawsuits from dozens of U.S. states that accuse it of harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms.
FILE - The Instagram logo is seen on a cell phone in Boston, Oct. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
MILAN (AP) — Fiorentina paid tribute to owner Rocco Commisso with special shirts and a heartwarming goal celebration in an emotional 2-1 win at Bologna in Serie A on Sunday.
It was announced early Saturday that Commisso, who purchased Fiorentina in 2019, had died. But his family wanted the team to play as scheduled in his honor.
Fiorentina warmed up wearing shirts with Commisso’s photo as well as the words “1 Rocco” on the back, and “Grazie Rocco” on the front.
There was a minute’s silence before kickoff — as in all the Serie A matches this weekend — and the players were also wearing black armbands, while the away fans displayed banners in tribute to Commisso.
Rolando Mandragora celebrated scoring the opening goal in the 19th minute by running to the touchline and picking up a special Fiorentina jersey with “Rocco” on it. He was later seen wearing that shirt in the post-match celebrations.
Roberto Piccoli doubled Fiorentina’s goal on the stroke of halftime. It was initially ruled out for offside but awarded on video review.
Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano, who coached Fiorentina to three finals before leaving in 2024, was visibly irate with his team — hurling his hat to the ground — and made four changes at halftime.
One of those substitutes, Giovanni Fabbian, headed in a late consolation.
Relegation-threatened Fiorentina moved level on points with Lecce, which occupies the last place of safety and was playing at second-placed AC Milan later.
Bologna slid down the table to eighth after one win in 10 Serie A matches.
Earlier Sunday, Parma drew 0-0 with Genoa in a relegation battle.
Genoa is three points above the drop zone and three below Parma.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Fiorentina's Rolando Mandragora with a jersey of Fiorentina's President Rocco Commisso celebrates the victory at the end of the Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Fiorentina in Bologna, Italy, Sunday, Jan.18, 2026. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)
Bologna's head coach Vincenzo Italiano looks during a minute of silence to honor late Fiorentina President Rocco Commisso during the Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Fiorentina, in Bologna, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)
Fiorentina's Roberto Piccoli celebrates after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Fiorentina, in Bologna, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)
Fiorentina's Rolando Mandragora celebrates after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Fiorentina, in Bologna, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)
