Instagram taps Usher and sons for teen safety series
By SYAHIRAH MOKHTAZAR
As scrutiny around teen social media use and online safety continues to intensify, Instagram has launched a new web series aimed at reframing how families talk about life online.
Titled Carversations, the series places parents and teenagers in a familiar setting (the car) to encourage candid, low-pressure conversations about screen time, boundaries and digital behaviour.
The debut episode features Grammy-winning artist Usher with his sons Usher "Cinco" Raymond V, 18, and Naviyd Ely Raymond, 17, positioning the global star not as a celebrity spokesperson, but as a parent navigating the same concerns facing families worldwide.
The format is deliberately simple. Shot during a car ride, the episode removes face-to-face confrontation, allowing conversation to unfold more naturally.
Reflecting on how car journeys have long served as a space for connection, Usher says, “We used to ride around in the van everywhere when you guys were 6, 7, 8 years old.”
His son quickly interjects: “Did you just say 6-7?” At the centre of the discussion is Instagram’s Teen Accounts, which include default safety features such as content filters, privacy controls and parental supervision tools.
Speaking directly to his sons, Usher explains his approach to online limits: “I don’t want my kid to see something I didn’t choose to allow them to see.”
Rather than framing the conversation as a lecture, the episode shows a back-and-forth negotiation.
Topics such as screen time, privacy and platform rules are discussed openly, with the teenagers questioning, teasing and at times challenging their father’s assumptions.
The dynamic highlights a growing reality for many parents, where teens are often more fluent in digital culture than the adults guiding them.
The series also reflects broader concerns about the role of social media in shaping identity, confidence and future opportunities.
Usher acknowledges the creative and career possibilities platforms can offer young people, while recognising the pressures that come with constant visibility and comparison.
Instead of relying on policy statements or public service messaging, the series places the issue within everyday family life, using unscripted conversations to show how parents and teens negotiate boundaries around social media.
Featuring a high-profile figure like Usher in a domestic, offstage setting also signals a shift towards relatability, positioning online safety not as an abstract concern, but as a practical, ongoing discussion playing out in homes everywhere.
