Ohio AG Urges Parents to Enroll in Instagram's New Teen Mental Health Tools

The new alert system will notify parents if their teen repeatedly searches for terms related to suicide or self-harm.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is encouraging parents to sign up for Instagram's parental supervision tools as the social media platform prepares to launch a new alert system aimed at addressing teen mental health concerns. The new alerts will notify enrolled parents if their teen repeatedly searches for terms related to suicide or self-harm within a short period of time.

Why it matters

The new Instagram tools are part of a broader effort to address the growing mental health crisis among teenagers, who have been disproportionately impacted by social media's effects on self-esteem and emotional well-being. By providing parents with early warning signs, the alerts can help facilitate important conversations and connect teens with needed resources.

The details

The new alert system will launch next week and is designed to give parents 'a window into warning signs that might otherwise go unseen.' Yost said the alerts can be used as an opportunity to talk openly with their kids about both mental health and online activity. The alerts are also meant to help parents access resources to guide their conversations with their children. Instagram already blocks searches clearly associated with suicide and self-harm while directing users to crisis resources, and the new alerts are an additional layer of protection.

  • The new Instagram alert system will launch next week.

The players

Dave Yost

The Attorney General of Ohio who is urging parents to enroll in Instagram's new parental supervision tools.

Instagram

The social media platform that is launching a new alert system to notify parents if their teen repeatedly searches for terms related to suicide or self-harm.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The tool gives parents 'a window into warning signs that might otherwise go unseen.'”

— Dave Yost, Ohio Attorney General (WHIO)

What’s next

Parents can find more information on the alerts and how to enroll in the supervision tool on Instagram's website.

The takeaway

The new Instagram tools are an important step in addressing the mental health crisis affecting teenagers, providing parents with early warning signs and resources to have crucial conversations with their children about online activity and well-being.