Instagram uses AI to detect teens lying about their age

Instagram is expanding its use of artificial intelligence to identify teens who may be lying about their age to avoid safety measures on the platform. The company announced that when its system suspects an account belongs to a teen, even if the user claims to be an adult, the account will automatically be moved into a restricted Teen Account. This feature, introduced last year, provides young users with built-in protections, including limiting who can contact them and what type of content they can access. For teens under 16, parental permission is required to adjust these safety settings. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, confirmed that its AI technology has been helping to determine users' ages for some time, but the company is now formally using it to ensure teens access the platform through the correct account type. Methods to detect teens using false birthdates include analyzing birthday-related posts and user reports. To ensure the system's accuracy, Instagram stated that users will have the option to review and adjust their settings if they are mistakenly placed into a Teen Account. The company emphasized the importance of working together with parents to promote online safety. Instagram will also begin sending notifications to parents, offering guidance on how to talk to their children about the importance of providing truthful age information online.This announcement follows Meta’s recent rollout of Teen Accounts on Facebook and Messenger. According to the company, at least 54 million teens worldwide have already been enrolled into these protected accounts, with 97% of users aged 13 to 15 remaining in the safer environment. Meta highlighted its ongoing commitment to adapt safety features as the digital landscape evolves, aiming to provide better protections for young people across its platforms.