Meta survey: 19% of teens 13-15 saw unwanted nude images on Instagram
A 2021 Meta survey revealed that 19% of Instagram users aged 13 to 15 reported seeing unwanted nude or sexual images on the platform, disclosed in a court filing in February 2026. The finding emerged as part of ongoing litigation against Meta alleging its products harm young users. Meta stated it would implement stronger moderation measures against explicit content for teen users starting in late 2025.
What happened
A 2021 Meta survey found that nearly 1 in 5 users aged 13 to 15 reported seeing "nudity or sexual images" on Instagram that they did not want to view, according to a court filing made public in February 2026.
The document included portions of a March 2025 deposition from Instagram head Adam Mosseri. Mosseri stated that the research came from a survey of user experiences rather than a review of posts themselves, and noted that most sexually explicit images were sent via private messages between users.
Reported impact
Approximately 19% of teen Instagram users aged 13 to 15 reported unwanted exposure to explicit content on the platform.
Index analysis
Meta has faced allegations from global leaders that its products harm young users, with thousands of lawsuits in the US accusing the company of designing addictive products and fueling a mental health crisis for minors.
Governance controls
In late 2025, Meta said it would remove images and videos "containing nudity or explicit sexual activity, including when generated by AI" for teen users, with exceptions for medical and educational content.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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