Instagram is taking a new step in protecting younger users by using artificial intelligence (AI) to detect teens who may be falsifying their ages on the platform, parent company Meta Platforms announced on Monday.
According to Meta, the company has already been leveraging AI to estimate users’ ages. Now, Instagram will proactively identify accounts it suspects are operated by teens even if the account was registered with a false birthdate. This initiative is part of a broader effort to make the platform safer for younger audiences.
If an account is found to be misrepresenting its age, Instagram will automatically switch it to a teen account. These accounts have stricter privacy and content controls by default. Teen profiles are set to private, and direct messages are restricted so that teens can only receive them from users they follow or are already connected with.
In addition, Instagram will limit the visibility of sensitive content, such as videos featuring physical altercations or promoting cosmetic procedures. Teens will receive activity notifications after being on the app for more than 60 minutes, and a new “sleep mode” will be activated from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. During sleep mode, notifications are silenced, and automatic replies are sent to incoming direct messages.
Meta detailed that its AI identifies underage users by analyzing behavior signals such as the type of content the account engages with, profile information, and account creation data. These enhanced measures come in response to growing concerns about social media’s impact on youth mental health and wellbeing. Lawmakers in several states are pushing for stricter age verification laws, though many face ongoing legal challenges.
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Major social media platforms, including Meta, have voiced support for shifting age verification responsibilities to app stores. This comes amid ongoing criticism that platforms are not doing enough to safeguard minors or prevent children under 13 from creating accounts.
Instagram will also provide resources for parents to help them engage in conversations with their teens about the importance of providing accurate age information online.
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