Instagram expands AI age detection worldwide to find teen users

Meta announced on Monday, November 9, that it is expanding globally the AI-powered age estimation technology it uses on Instagram to find teenagers who have not correctly stated their age. According to Meta's announcement, the rollout will place "millions more teens on Instagram into Teen Account protections."

The system looks for signals that suggest whether a user is under 18. The Verge reported that these include the profiles and types of content a user interacts with, birthday messages received, and visual cues from photos and videos the user uploads. Meta has also started using Apple's age-range signal as an additional method in Australia.

Under the age assurance system, users believed to be under 13, the minimum age for Meta social accounts, are removed. Users believed to be 13 to 17 are placed automatically into more restrictive Teen Accounts, even if they registered with a false adult birthday.

Teen Accounts are private by default, limit the content teens can see and stop strangers from sending them direct messages. Gulf News reported that they also restrict how much time teenagers spend on the platform. Parents or guardians can choose to supervise the accounts, set time limits and monitor use. Users aged 16 or younger cannot change Teen Account settings without a parent's or guardian's permission.

Meta said the technology has already helped place more teenagers under age-appropriate protections, which prompted the worldwide expansion. Because protections are applied automatically, teenagers or parents no longer need to switch on individual safety settings.

Meta launched its AI age assurance updates in the US, EU and Brazil last year. The Verge reported that the global expansion follows a $17.1 billion lawsuit settlement in August, in which Meta agreed to strengthen its age assurance practices and place heavier restrictions on teen users.

Parents in the US will start receiving an Instagram notification next month explaining how age estimation works, Meta said. The company is continuing to roll out the technology on Facebook and plans to begin launching similar technology globally on Threads later this year. The Verge noted that Meta has not said whether or when automatic checks on Facebook, introduced for US accounts in May, will reach other regions.