Meta has finalized an agreement with the Motion Picture Association (MPA) mandating a significant reduction in how the platform references the “PG-13” rating when discussing content guidelines for Instagram teen accounts.

This development follows months of back-and-forth between the two entities regarding Meta’s use of the familiar movie rating system.

The Core of the Dispute

MPA’s Initial Objection

The agreement was reached after the MPA previously issued a cease-and-desist order to Meta. This action stemmed from Meta’s comparison of its new content restrictions—covering nudity, sexual content, or suggestive poses—to the standards found in a PG-13 film.

The MPA strongly refuted this comparison, labeling it “literally false and misleading.” They argued that Meta’s content restrictions do not adhere to the MPA’s established, curated rating process.

Meta’s Stance on Guidelines

In a statement released on Tuesday, a Meta spokesperson clarified that the underlying 13+ content guidelines on Instagram remain unchanged. However, the company acknowledged that it has incorporated the MPA’s feedback concerning the terminology used to describe these efforts.

Terms of the New Agreement

Effective Date and Required Disclaimer

The new terms of the agreement are set to take effect starting April 15th. A key component of this resolution involves Meta displaying a specific disclaimer when referencing its teen accounts.

This disclaimer explicitly addresses the differences between social media moderation and movie ratings. It notes that Meta did not collaborate with the MPA on updating its content settings.

Disclaimer Content

The required text emphasizes that the MPA is not rating any content on Instagram, nor are they endorsing or approving the platform’s content settings in any capacity. The statement will read:

  • There are lots of differences between social media and movies.
  • We didn’t work with the MPA when updating our content settings, and they’re not rating any content on Instagram, and they’re not endorsing or approving our content settings in any way.
  • Rather, we drew inspiration from the MPA’s public guidelines, which are already familiar to parents.
  • Our content moderation systems are not the same as a movie ratings board, so the experience may not be exactly the same.