Instagram intends to make young users' accounts "private" automatically to protect them from potential abuse

But according to critics, these measures won't go far enough to shelter them from the risks associated with children and teens using social networks.

Starting this week, accounts created by people under 16 (or even 18 in some countries) will be private by default, with existing users encouraged, but not required, to make this choice.

"We believe that private accounts are the right choice for young people, but we also realize that some young creators may want to create public accounts to build a fan base," the photo and video sharing app said in a statement Tuesday.

"Where we can, we want to protect young people from any contact with them from adults they don't know (...) and we believe that private accounts are the best way," he added.

These accounts allow their owners to limit interactions (such as likes and comments) with users they have not added to their contacts.

Instagram also announced that it has developed technology to prevent users who have been "banned or reported by a young person" from interacting with teens or "discovering" their accounts on the platform's explore bars.

These measures will initially apply to users in the United States, Australia, France, the United Kingdom and Japan, before extending them further.

But it may not reassure the many associations and authorities that link the social network to multiple risks to the mental health of young people.

In May, most US states called on Facebook President Mark Zuckerberg to abandon his project to create a version of Instagram for those under the age of 13.

In a letter to the founder of the giant network, prosecutors in 44 states said that "research shows an association between the use of social networks and increased psychological stress and suicidal behavior among young people."

They cited studies showing the harm caused by constant comparison with their peers, such as eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia).

They also noted the risks of cyberbullying or harassment by other teens or adult criminals.

Instagram now requires its users to be at least 13 years old, as is the case with Snapchat and Tik Tok.