Meta enhances teen protection and updates oEmbed integration

In April 2025, Meta announced two major updates: enhanced safety features for teen accounts and important changes to the oEmbed tool used for embedding Instagram and Facebook content on external platforms. Both initiatives aim to improve user safety and content control—but they also require attention from digital marketers, developers, and communication professionals.

A new level of safety for teens on Meta’s platforms

Instagram has introduced stricter safety measures for users under the age of 16. From now on, teens will need parental permission to go live or to disable the image blurring feature in direct messages. This feature automatically detects and blurs potentially sensitive content—such as nudity—before it is displayed.

Meta is also expanding its “Teen Accounts” format to Facebook and Messenger. This unified approach ensures consistent safety settings for underage users across Meta’s platforms. Teen accounts come with built-in content and interaction restrictions, disabled nighttime notifications, and screen time reminders.

According to Meta, 97% of users aged 13–15 keep the default privacy settings enabled, and 94% of U.S. parents believe that teen accounts help create a safer experience. Furthermore, 85% of parents say these features contribute to a more positive online environment for their children.

These changes are part of Meta’s broader strategy to protect vulnerable users and reduce exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and social media overuse during adolescence.

oEmbed updates: what’s changing for developers and publishers

Alongside the safety updates, Meta also introduced changes to its oEmbed functionality—the tool that allows developers to embed public Instagram and Facebook posts on external websites and platforms. The updates affect both the structure of the API response and how content is displayed.

Key changes include:

• Instagram: The /instagram_oembed endpoint will no longer return the fields thumbnail_url, thumbnail_width, thumbnail_height, and author_name. This means platforms will now need to retrieve thumbnail images and author details manually from post metadata if required.
• Facebook: The /oembed and /oembed_video endpoints will no longer return author_name and author_url.

However, Meta has introduced a new permission, meta_oembed_read, which replaces the previous scope. No changes are needed to existing apps—this permission will be applied automatically by October 1, 2025.

What this means for marketers, publishers, and developers

On one hand, the teen safety enhancements reflect positively on Meta’s commitment to responsibility—something that can benefit brands seeking to align with ethical practices. If your target audience includes teens or their parents, you should consider these updates in your content planning, messaging, and ad targeting strategies.

On the other hand, the oEmbed changes may create additional work for development and content teams. Websites that rely on embedded posts should test how content displays under the new rules and update their templates accordingly.

For publishers and news platforms, the removal of author data fields may impact workflows and automated layouts. It’s important to audit your current integration and consult with technical teams to ensure smooth transitions.

Conclusion

Meta continues its shift toward a safer, more controlled, and privacy-focused digital ecosystem. While this presents new opportunities for brands that value transparency, it also demands adaptation. Both marketers and developers must stay alert to changes across Meta’s platforms to maintain relevance and deliver a seamless user experience.

This article available in Ukrainian.