Meta is globally expanding the age estimation technology it uses to find teens on Instagram who have not properly disclosed their age. The rollout will automatically place “millions more teens on Instagram into teen account protection,” according to Meta’s announcement, after rolling out AI-powered age-checking updates in the US, EU and Brazil last year.
Age detection tools proactively look for signs that are likely to determine whether Instagram users are under 18 and automatically place users between the ages of 13 and 17 on more restrictive teen accounts, even if they signed up with a fake adult birth date. Teen accounts are designed to provide a safer, age-appropriate experience by being private by default, limiting the type of content teens can see, and preventing strangers from sending them direct messages. Meta says it has also started using Apple’s age range signal as an additional screening method in Australia.
Parents and guardians can also choose to monitor teen accounts to set time limits and monitor how their child uses Instagram. Users under the age of 16 cannot adjust teen account settings without the permission of their parent or guardian. Meta says parents in the US will start receiving a notification on Instagram next month that explains the age estimation process and how they can ensure their teen’s age is accurately reflected on the platform.
This global expansion follows a $17.1 billion court settlement in August in which Meta agreed to tighten its age-control practices and impose stricter restrictions on teenage users. Meta says it is in the process of rolling out its age estimation technology to Facebook and will begin rolling out similar tools for Threads later this year.
Correction, November 9: This article previously said that AI-based age estimation technology was also used to detect and remove users under the age of 13, but Meta says this is a separate process. The global expansion announced today will only place teen users in the Teen Account settings.
