Meta expands AI age checks on Instagram to protect millions more teens worldwide
The technology is designed to identify users who may be between 13 and 17 years old based on signals that suggest their age, rather than relying only on the birthday they provide. As announced by the company, starting this month, parents in the United States will begin receiving a notification on Instagram explaining how we place teens in age-appropriate protections, and how they can help make sure their teen’s age is accurate.
Meta said that the move will bring millions more teens worldwide under Instagram’s Teen Account safeguards. Meta has expanded its AI age-estimation technology globally to place millions more teens in Teen Account protections on Instagram.
The article, written by internet safety advocate Larry Magid, will be available to parents worldwide.
How Meta’s AI technology identifies teen users
Meta said it uses AI to find accounts that it suspects belong to teenagers, even when users have misrepresented their age. Once identified, these accounts are placed in Teen Account protections. These safeguards automatically limit who can contact teens, the content they can see and the amount of time they spend on the platform. Teen Accounts are available across Instagram, Facebook and Messenger.