The 64% Problem: Can Instagram’s New System Overcome Past Failures?

Instagram’s new PG-13 system for teens is being launched with a significant cloud hanging over it: the “64% problem.” This refers to the finding from a recent independent report that two-thirds (64%) of the platform’s new safety tools were ineffective, a statistic that severely undermines confidence in any new feature.
This damning figure, from a study involving a former Meta engineer, is the primary reason for the intense skepticism greeting the PG-13 announcement. It suggests a systemic issue at the company where the implementation of safety features does not live up to their public promises.
The new “13+” default setting, with its content filters and parental controls, is Meta’s attempt to prove it can solve this problem. The company needs this system to be demonstrably effective to counter the narrative that its safety engineering is fundamentally flawed.
For critics, the 64% figure is a baseline. They will be asking whether the new PG-13 system performs better. Is it more than 36% effective at protecting teens from harm? This is the quantitative challenge that Meta now faces.
To overcome its history of failure, Meta will need to be radically transparent. It will need to share data, welcome independent audits, and prove with numbers that the PG-13 system is not just another well-intentioned but ultimately ineffective tool.