Instagram to use AI to identify teens who give false birth dates
Meta is expanding its AI age-detection system worldwide so Instagram can place users it suspects are under 18 into Teen Accounts, even when they registered as adults.
Meta said on Monday, November 9, that it is extending its AI-powered age-detection system to all regions. It allows Instagram to recognise users it believes are under 18 even if they signed up with an adult birthday, and the company said millions more teenagers could be moved into Teen Accounts as a result.
Accounts flagged as belonging to teenagers can receive Teen Account protections rather than relying only on the birth date entered at registration. These settings limit who can contact younger users, restrict the content they see and offer tools to manage time spent on the app. The protections are applied automatically, so teens or parents do not need to switch on each setting.
Meta is continuing the rollout on Facebook and plans to introduce similar technology globally on Threads later this year. The company described the expansion as part of wider efforts to stop teenagers from bypassing age limits across its platforms.