Meta-owned Instagram is ramping up efforts to protect younger users by using AI to verify the ages of teens across the U.S. The new system is designed to detect fake birthdates and ensure that underage users are placed into Teen Accounts, which offer a more secure and age-appropriate online experience.
While Instagram has used AI for age estimation before, this update marks a more proactive approach. If the system suspects a user under 16 is using a false date of birth, it will automatically shift them to a Teen Account with restricted features. These accounts limit interactions with unknown adults, reduce personalized ads, and increase privacy settings by default.
Instagram says it is refining the technology to improve accuracy and avoid misclassifying users, and teens will be able to adjust their settings if an error occurs. The platform also plans to notify parents with tips on how to talk to their teens about using their real age online.
Teen Accounts were first introduced on Instagram in 2024 and have now been rolled out to Facebook and Messenger as of April 8. Meta reports that over 54 million teens have been enrolled so far, with 97% of users aged 13–15 choosing to stay within the protected environment.
Source: Mobile World Live
