Instagram's move to require users' date of birth may hurt the reach of some accounts, but it ultimately creates a safer environment for people of all ages.

Instagram first began asking users to provide a birthdate on their account in 2019. However, users with older accounts were left out of the process, at least until now. Instagram has finally begun asking more users to add their birthdates in order to continue viewing sensitive content, and it’s warning that including your birthdate in your account information will soon no longer be optional.

While this may limit the reach of some accounts, it ultimately helps protect younger users from sensitive content they don't need to see.

“I love doing it, even though it hurts my grades,” Timo Torner, founder of a popular account called the Cocktail Society, told Lifewire in an email.