Meta Expands Instagram’s School Partnership Program in the US
Meta is adding new features to Instagram’s School Partnership Program in the US, allowing schools and verified high school students to share news about clubs, sports teams, and events, the company announced. The update arrives a month after Meta’s settlement with US states over claims that it designed Instagram and Facebook to addict children.
Under that agreement, made with 52 attorneys general, Meta will pay up to $18bn over 10 years and add daily time limits for teens. The school program itself started last year with the education groups ISTE and ASCD.
Its initial focus was on enabling educators to report bullying and other safety problems directly to Instagram, and nearly 17,000 schools have now signed up, Meta said.
Key Features:
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Channels: Partner schools receive Channels for administrator-only updates for followers like parents and the local community.
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School Stories and Notes: Schools can publish Stories and Notes accessible only by verified students at that school.
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Classmate Directory: Students can find a directory of clubs and teams, serving as a hub for events and announcements.
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Student Verification: Students must be verified by UNiDAYS before gaining access to these features. Parents receive notifications through Meta’s Family Center.
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Content Control: School staff maintain control over content, removing club and team accounts, Stories, and Notes if needed.
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Review Priority: Reports from partner schools are prioritized in Instagram’s review queue.
Middle and high schools in the US can join through Instagram's "Account type and tools" or "Business tools and controls" menus, following Meta’s sign-up instructions.