Key Takeaways

  • Instagram has launched custom app icons, but they’re available only to teen users.
  • Teens can choose from six vibrant icon designs, including neon, glass, fire, flowers, and slime.
  • Adult users are pushing back, calling the move unfair and ageist, while others see it as a Snapchat-style gimmick.
  • Instagram says the goal is to make teen accounts more appealing — part of its broader effort to keep minors safer on the platform.
  • The company currently has no plans to expand the feature to adult or paid users.

What’s Happening

Instagram just rolled out a quirky new feature that’s creating both excitement and frustration: custom app icons, exclusively for teens.

The feature lets users under 18 change their Instagram icon to one of several colorful alternatives — think neon glow, clear glass, green slime, fire, and floral themes. Teens can access it by tapping the Instagram logo at the top of their home feed, opening a hidden customization menu.

But here’s the catch: only users with teen accounts — the restricted, age-verified profiles launched in 2024 — can access it. Adult users? Left out.

Why the Age Lock?

Instagram’s reasoning, according to a statement to TechCrunch, is that teens love personalization. The company wants to make its teen accounts more enticing, rather than relying solely on restrictions.

In other words, Instagram is dangling a fun incentive (“the carrot”) instead of just enforcing rules (“the stick”).

This makes sense from a product psychology standpoint: customization creates a stronger emotional connection between users and an app, increasing engagement and retention — key factors for younger audiences.

The Backlash: “Why Not Us?”

The rollout has, however, sparked a backlash among adult users. On X (formerly Twitter), Instagram’s announcement was met with an overwhelming chorus of frustration. Many questioned why something as harmless as icon customization should be exclusive to teenagers.

Some users accused Instagram of copying Snapchat, where custom icons are a Snapchat+ paid feature. Others joked that the feature gives off “MySpace vibes” — a nostalgic nod to the early days of social media customization.

One user quipped:

“So now I need to lie about my age just to have a cooler app icon?”

The Strategy Behind Teen Accounts

Instagram’s teen accounts were introduced in 2024 as part of Meta’s youth safety initiative, which limits exposure to adult content and restricts direct messages from unknown users. The company has since started using AI-based age detection to identify users who misrepresent their age and automatically move them into appropriate account types.

The custom icons, then, aren’t just about aesthetics — they’re about making the teen experience feel special, not restrictive. Instagram wants to reframe compliance as cool.

Why Teens, Specifically?

Teens are leading the home screen customization trend that exploded with Apple’s iOS 14 in 2020, when widgets and custom icons became mainstream. With iOS 18 and the upcoming iOS 26 updates, Apple has made customization even easier, introducing tinted icons and faster setup.

And while Android users have enjoyed advanced customization for years, the fact remains: most U.S. teens use iPhones. For Instagram, this audience overlap makes teens the perfect demographic for such visual features.

The Bigger Picture

This feature fits into a growing industry trend: platforms tailoring experiences by age group. While adults might feel left out, Instagram’s move reflects a broader shift toward segmented user experiences — with safety, engagement, and cultural trends at the center.

Still, excluding adults entirely may prove shortsighted. Home screen personalization is now part of digital identity, not just decoration. Limiting such features could alienate older users who value self-expression just as much as teens do.

Did You Know?

According to a 2025 Pew Research study, 81% of U.S. teens aged 13–17 use Instagram weekly, and 65% say they enjoy customizing their phone’s appearance. Meanwhile, only 29% of adults report caring about app icon aesthetics — suggesting Instagram’s decision might be more data-driven than emotional.

Conclusion

Instagram’s new teen-only custom icons may seem like a small update, but it reveals a lot about how Meta views its youngest users: as both a vulnerable group to protect and a creative audience to empower.

Still, the controversy shows how deeply users — of all ages — value control over their digital environment. If Instagram wants to avoid alienating its broader base, it might need to rethink exclusivity and embrace customization for everyone.

FAQs

How can teens change their Instagram app icon?

Teen users can tap the Instagram logo at the top of their feed to open a customization menu, then choose from several themed icons.

Why can’t adults access the custom icons?

Instagram says the feature is designed to make teen accounts more engaging, with no current plans to expand access to adult users or paid subscribers.

Is Instagram copying Snapchat?

In a way, yes. Snapchat offers icon customization to Snapchat+ subscribers, but Instagram’s version is free and exclusive to teens.

Can adults get access by switching their birth date?

Technically, no — Instagram now uses AI-based age verification to detect false age entries and reassign users to correct account types.

Will custom icons come to everyone later?

Instagram hasn’t announced any plans yet, but based on user demand, expansion to general accounts or paid tiers remains possible.