In a move aimed at addressing rising teen mental health concerns, Dave Yost is encouraging Ohio parents to enroll in Instagram’s parental supervision tools as the platform prepares to launch a new alert system.
Beginning next week, Instagram will notify parents who use the supervision feature if their teen repeatedly searches for terms related to suicide or self-harm within a short period of time.
“Parents can’t possibly know everything their kids are doing,” Yost said. “But this new tool gives moms and dads a window into warning signs that might otherwise go unseen. Knowledge is power.”
What the New Alerts Do
Instagram already blocks searches clearly associated with suicide and self-harm and redirects users to crisis resources and helplines. The new notification system adds another layer of protection by alerting parents to repeated search behavior that may signal distress.
Yost urged parents to use those alerts as an opening for conversation — not confrontation.
The goal, he said, is to provide timely information and access to resources that can help guide difficult but important discussions about mental health and online activity.
Parents who believe their child may be in crisis can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
How Instagram Supervision Works
Supervision must be agreed to by both the teen and the parent.
- Teens must be 13–17 years old
- Parents must be 18 or older
- Only one parent can supervise a teen’s account
- The latest version of the Instagram app is required
Either the teen or parent can send a supervision invite. The invite must be accepted before supervision begins.
Important details:
- Invites expire after 48 hours
- Parents supervising multiple teens must send invites individually
- The first parent to accept an invite becomes the supervising account
- Accounts that are blocked cannot be linked for supervision
- Supervision must be removed before a parent or teen can block one another
Notifications about supervision activity appear in Instagram’s Activity section, and push notifications may be sent if enabled.
Parents can learn more by visiting Instagram’s Help Center or navigating to the “Supervision” section within the app’s settings.
Yost, who has consistently pushed for stronger online protections for minors, said tools like this reflect the kind of safeguards he has advocated for to help families navigate the digital world.
For many parents, social media can feel like a locked door. This new system may offer at least a small window inside — and possibly an early warning when it matters most.
SCDN will continue tracking developments impacting families and online safety across Ohio.
