Steps by Instagram to restrict content for teenagers shows pressure on platforms is working ahead of a social media ban, the education minister says.
Content on Instagram for users between 13 and 17 is set to be restricted in line with PG-13 movie ratings as part of the platform's Teen Account's feature.
The move comes ahead of a social media ban for under-16s - which kicks in from December 10 - but Meta, Instagram's parent company, says the change was not implemented due to the looming age restrictions.
Education Minister Jason Clare said the moves by Instagram proved platforms can take greater action to reduce harm on social media for young people.
"All of the claims by the companies that this is too hard and won't work and they can't do anything is wrong," he told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.
"They just have chosen not to until this government has put pressure on them."
Tara Hopkins, global director of public policy at Meta, said changes followed consultations with thousands of parents concerned about age-appropriate content.
Teenage content on Instagram would be guided by what a child would see in a PG-13 movie, Ms Hopkins said.
"Teens under 18 will be automatically placed into an updated 13+ setting, and they won't be able to opt out without a parent's permission," she said.
Parents would have extra controls on what their child could view, with stricter settings available.
Ms Hopkins denied the changes were a last ditch effort to skirt Australia's under-16s social media ban.
Mr Clare said parents should not be held responsible if a teenager managed to circumvent the upcoming social media ban.
"We're not putting pressure on mums and dads to be the police of all of this. We're expecting companies like Instagram, we're expecting companies like Meta to do their job and be part of the solution to here to help keep our kids safe," he said.
Under the changes, teenagers will no longer be able to follow accounts the platform has found regularly share age-inappropriate content, or if their name or bio suggests the account is inappropriate for teens.
This may include creators on OnlyFans, an online subscription service where payment is exchanged for content and nudity is permitted, Ms Hopkins said.
State and territory education ministers are also set to be briefed on the social media ban at an upcoming meeting on Friday by the eSafety commissioner.
Ministers will consider a new national standard on anti-bullying.
"Bullying is a serious problem, and it's getting worse," Mr Clare said.
"Complaints about online bullying to the eSafety Commissioner have increased by 450 per cent in the last five years.
