Meta Expands AI Age Detection for Instagram Teen Accounts Globally

Meta is expanding its AI age-estimation technology globally to place more Instagram users into Teen Account protections, even if they signed up with an adult date of birth. The company has been using the technology in the US, European Union and Brazil to estimate a user's age. If the systems determine the person is aged between 13 and 17, they will be funneled into a teen account.

Teen accounts are more restrictive than standard ones as they have age-appropriate protections. They prevent strangers from messaging teens, make profiles and posts private by default, employ daily app time limits and have parental controls. Meta will soon start sending parents in the US a notification on Instagram to explain how teens are placed into these accounts.

How the technology works

Meta previously said it uses bone structure analysis of photos, as well as analyzing users mentioning things like school grades or birthday celebrations to estimate a person's age. In Australia, it is starting to use Apple's age-range system as an extra signal. Meta has long been pushing for legislation that would make app stores responsible for verifying users' ages.

Expansion to other platforms

Meta is continuing to expand its use of AI age-estimation tech on Facebook as well. The company plans to bring it to Threads later this year.

Legal context

In August, the company reached an agreement with 52 attorneys general to settle a lawsuit that alleged harms to young users of its apps. Under the agreement, Meta may have to pay as much as $18 billion. As part of that settlement, the company said it is "investing in even stronger technology to proactively catch accounts that may belong to children under 13" and to detect accounts belonging to 13- to 17-year-olds.

Why it matters

The global expansion means millions more teens on Instagram could be placed into Teen Account protections automatically. Meta says the expansion follows a settlement in August in which the company agreed to bolster its age assurance practices and place heavier restrictions on teen users. The effectiveness of age detection remains central to the rollout, as the company's systems must identify teenagers accurately while allowing users to challenge decisions when they are incorrectly classified.

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Sources

• engadget.com: Meta Is Expanding AI Age Detection For Instagram Teen Accounts
• theverge.com: Instagram’s AI age detection is expanding globally | The Verge
• techpoint.africa: Meta expands AI age detection to protect teenagers who lie about their age
• wersm.com: Instagram Expands AI Age Checks For Teen Accounts
• unite.ai: Meta Takes AI Age Estimation Global for Instagram Teen Protections – Unite.AI
• cnbctv18.com: Meta expands AI age checks for Instagram teens as lawsuits mount - CNBC TV18

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.