FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 14, 2025
Contact: Ashwin Verghese, Communications Director, [email protected], 508-263-0289
Fairplay Statement on Instagram ‘PG-13’ Rating System
Fairplay released the following statement today in response to Instagram’s announcement that it was adopting a “PG-13” rating system for teens.
Fairplay Executive Director Josh Golin said: “We appreciate that Meta has rushed to implement one of the key recommendations of our ‘Teen Accounts, Broken Promises’ report and claims it will stop pushing sexualized and violent content to teens. But as that report extensively documented, there is no reason to trust that Instagram’s promised changes will actually make the product safe for teens: Nearly two-thirds of Instagram’s promoted safety tools for teens were ineffective or nonexistent.
“Splashy press releases won’t keep kids safe, but real accountability and transparency will. That’s why families need the Kids Online Safety Act, so that companies like Meta are required to report on the impacts of their safety measures. This massively popular bipartisan bill now has filibuster-proof support in the Senate, but Meta’s lobbying has helped prevent it from advancing in the House. If Instagram truly cared about teen safety, it would get out of KOSA’s way and allow this life-saving legislation to become law.”
For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Communications Director Ashwin Verghese at [email protected]
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About Fairplay
Fairplay is the leading nonprofit committed to helping children thrive in an increasingly commercialized, screen-obsessed culture, and the only organization dedicated to ending marketing to children. Fairplay works to enhance children’s well-being by eliminating the exploitative and harmful business practices of marketers and Big Tech. Learn more at www.fairplayforkids.org.