Major Trade Group Slams Instagram Over Use of PG-13 Rating on Teen Accounts
The Motion Picture Association (MPA), a prominent trade group representing major Hollywood studios, has sent Meta, the parent company of Instagram, a cease-and-desist letter demanding that the social media giant stop using its PG-13 movie rating to describe Instagram's framework for new teen settings in the app.
The MPA claims that Instagram's use of the PG-13 label is "literally false and highly misleading" as it implies a false equivalency between Meta's AI-based content filtering and the MPA's human-generated ratings. According to the trade group, this statement "constitutes false advertising under federal law" and "violates various state laws."
The dispute began in October when Instagram announced its revamped Teen Accounts, which would be "guided" by the PG-13 movie rating. The MPA had previously objected to Instagram's usage of the label, stating that Meta didn't contact the group prior to the announcement.
In response to the MPA's letter, Meta claimed that it never claimed Instagram's teen accounts were officially "PG-13 rated" or certified by the MPA. However, the company acknowledged that its statements about Teen Accounts being "guided by PG-13 ratings" were factually accurate and based on a review of Meta's content moderation protocol against publicly available PG-13 standards.
The MPA is seeking to protect its reputation and the integrity of its film-rating system, which has been in place since 1968. The trade group argues that using the PG-13 label without proper authorization would "impair the distinctiveness" of its famous rating mark and constitute an illegal "dilution" of the trademark.
The dispute highlights the ongoing debate between social media companies and traditional content creators over issues such as online censorship, data protection, and intellectual property rights. As Instagram continues to evolve its moderation policies, the MPA's stance on this matter is likely to have implications for other platforms and content creators in the industry.
The Motion Picture Association (MPA), a prominent trade group representing major Hollywood studios, has sent Meta, the parent company of Instagram, a cease-and-desist letter demanding that the social media giant stop using its PG-13 movie rating to describe Instagram's framework for new teen settings in the app.
The MPA claims that Instagram's use of the PG-13 label is "literally false and highly misleading" as it implies a false equivalency between Meta's AI-based content filtering and the MPA's human-generated ratings. According to the trade group, this statement "constitutes false advertising under federal law" and "violates various state laws."
The dispute began in October when Instagram announced its revamped Teen Accounts, which would be "guided" by the PG-13 movie rating. The MPA had previously objected to Instagram's usage of the label, stating that Meta didn't contact the group prior to the announcement.
In response to the MPA's letter, Meta claimed that it never claimed Instagram's teen accounts were officially "PG-13 rated" or certified by the MPA. However, the company acknowledged that its statements about Teen Accounts being "guided by PG-13 ratings" were factually accurate and based on a review of Meta's content moderation protocol against publicly available PG-13 standards.
The MPA is seeking to protect its reputation and the integrity of its film-rating system, which has been in place since 1968. The trade group argues that using the PG-13 label without proper authorization would "impair the distinctiveness" of its famous rating mark and constitute an illegal "dilution" of the trademark.
The dispute highlights the ongoing debate between social media companies and traditional content creators over issues such as online censorship, data protection, and intellectual property rights. As Instagram continues to evolve its moderation policies, the MPA's stance on this matter is likely to have implications for other platforms and content creators in the industry.
, I think it's kinda weird that the MPA is getting so worked up about Instagram using their rating system without actually being affiliated with it 
. I mean, if it's just a label they're using to describe how they're moderating content, why are they making such a big deal? The PG-13 thing was probably used just to make sure the app wasn't too explicit for younger teens, and that's actually kinda commendable 
. But hey, I guess if you're trying to trademark your rating system, you gotta protect it, right? 
I think Meta is being super reasonable here. I mean, they're not claiming that their AI-based filtering system is equivalent to an actual PG-13 rating from the MPA, just that it's guided by similar standards. It's like saying a self-driving car uses a GPS route that's similar to human navigation - they're not saying the same thing, but they're going for a similar goal.
it seems like they're trying to control everything, but at the end of the day, social media platforms are just trying to provide a service. and honestly, who doesn't want to see some PG-13 drama on their feed? 
it seems like they're just trying to shut instagram down and protect their own interests. not cool, MPA. not cool. 
. It's all about online censorship and data protection issues, right? Shouldn't we be having more conversations about how social media companies are regulating their own content rather than getting caught up in trademark disputes? 
I mean, maybe this is just an opportunity for Instagram to re-evaluate its moderation policies and get more transparent about what's really going on behind the scenes 
.
. It's all about giving parents some peace of mind, you feel? Meta's just trying to be responsible and adapt to the times, but I guess that doesn't sit well with the MPA's old-school vibes 
.
. Anyway, this drama might get all sorts of influencers and creators taking sides on the platform 
i mean i get it they wanna create some sort of safety net for teens but come on its like comparing apples and oranges the MPA has been doing this stuff for decades and its super respected the whole thing feels fishy tbh 
. maybe they can find a middle ground tho? like, use a custom rating system or something?