Visually-Impaired Version 
Simon Milner, Vice President for Public Policy in the Asia-Pacific region at Meta, visited Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU). During his visit, he participated in the official launch ceremony of Instagram Teen Accounts in Kazakhstan and held discussions with the leadership of MNU.
A senior representative of Meta’s top management, Milner shared insights into the company’s global approach to safeguarding young people online. He delivered a speech at the presentation of Instagram Teen Accounts in Kazakhstan, an event organised by Meta Platforms Inc. in cooperation with the Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan and supported by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The event brought together Yerzhan Sadenov, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Dinara Zakiyeva, Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan; the leadership of Maqsut Narikbayev University; members of the Senate and Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan; representatives from several ministries and international organisations; as well as school students from Astana. The newly introduced Teen Accounts — designed for users under the age of 16 — feature enhanced security and parental control measures. This innovation was developed based on international research and consultations with parents, aiming to mitigate risks related to cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content.
Simon Milner also held meetings with Talgat Narikbayev, Chairman of the MNU Board, and Sergey Pen, Provost of MNU. The discussions focused on potential areas of collaboration, including the proposed launch of the VERA Lab project—the first research centre in Central Asia dedicated to digital ethics and online safety. Additionally, the Meta Vice President toured MNU’s facilities and expressed appreciation to the university’s leadership for hosting the event.
The launch of Teen Accounts in Kazakhstan is expected to represent a significant step towards creating a safer digital environment tailored to the developmental needs of teenagers and the expectations of their parents.
