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Meta and MPA Settle PG-13 Dispute as Instagram Scales Back References

The deal aims to prevent parents from confusing film ratings with Instagram’s content rules.

Overview

  • An agreement announced Tuesday requires Meta to substantially reduce PG-13 mentions for Instagram Teen Accounts and to attach a clear disclaimer when it does.
  • Starting April 15, Instagram must state that the MPA did not work with or endorse its settings and that social media moderation differs from movie ratings.
  • Meta says teen content filters will not change and that only its wording will, after reviewing its policies against 13+ movie criteria and parent feedback.
  • The dispute began after Instagram in October 2025 said Teen Accounts were guided by PG-13, which prompted a November cease-and-desist calling the claim “literally false and highly misleading,” and Meta later shifted to saying it was inspired by movie ratings for ages 13+.
  • The MPA’s ratings system, run since 1968 by a parent board under its CARA program, is a trademarked process that studios use to guide families and that the group argues should not be conflated with algorithmic social platform controls.