Meta expands AI age checks and teen protections on Instagram

AI · First reported 9 Nov, 13:13 · Updated 13:46

Image: Wikimedia Commons · NASA Johnson Space Center · Public domain

Meta says it is expanding AI age-estimation technology globally on Instagram to identify accounts that may belong to teens, including users whose listed birthdays indicate they are adults, and place them in Teen Account protections. The coverage also notes legal scrutiny of Meta and planned or ongoing age-detection rollouts on other services.

Meta says its AI will identify Instagram accounts likely to belong to teenagers and apply existing Teen Account protections even when users list an adult birthday.
Teen Accounts limit who can contact teens, the content they can see, and their time on the apps; Meta says the expansion could cover millions more teenagers.
Meta is also rolling out the technology on Facebook and says similar age-detection capabilities will launch globally on Threads later this year.
In Australia, Meta has begun using an age-range signal from Apple as another way to help assess users’ ages.
Meta faces lawsuits alleging harm to young users; one report says parents in the US will begin receiving Instagram notifications this month about how teen protections are applied.

Summary written by Lux AI from 4 articles

Key facts

Instagram rollout: Meta says age-estimation technology is expanding globally to identify teens who may have listed adult birthdays.
Teen Account protections: They limit contacts, content teens can see, and time on the apps.
Other services: Meta is rolling out the technology on Facebook and plans a global Threads launch later this year.
Australia: Meta has begun using Apple’s age-range signal as an additional age-assessment method.
US parent notifications: Parents will begin receiving Instagram notifications this month explaining how teens are placed in age-appropriate protections.