Nigeria, April 9 -- Instagram has announced a new rule that will stop users under 16 from going live on the platform unless they get permission from their parents.

The rule is one of several steps the company is taking to protect young users online.

The update, shared on Tuesday by Meta, the parent company of Instagram, will first apply in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

It will later be introduced in more countries.

As part of the changes, teens will also need parental approval to turn off a safety feature that blurs suspected nude images in private messages.

This tool, which was launched in April 2024, is meant to protect teens from being targeted or tricked into harmful situations.

The company has be...