In a bid to enhance protection for young users, social media giant Meta has launched an AI-powered age-estimation tool worldwide. The new technology will reportedly detect teenagers who signed up using false birth dates and shift them to Teen Accounts, which offer more restrictions and protections. This expansion of the system follows its initial success in over 20 countries.
Meta's AI system, implemented on Instagram, identifies users based on contextual clues such as birthday celebrations or school mentions, without relying on facial recognition. Accounts flagged as potentially belonging to minors will be moved into Teen Accounts, which limit usage time and content access, among other restrictions.
The implementation of this technology is not limited to Instagram; Meta also plans to roll it out for Facebook and Threads by the end of the year. The company has called on competitors to adopt similar age checks, supporting legislation that would have app stores verify users' ages. In the United States, under-18 users will face a two-hour daily time limit and a nighttime curfew.
The deployment of this technology comes after Meta settled a major lawsuit in August over allegations of designing its platforms to addict children and collect their personal data without adequate age verification. The company also faced two other legal actions this year concerning the impact of its products on minors. Governments worldwide have increasingly intervened to protect minors from social media-related harms, with several countries introducing bans for minors under a certain age.
As Meta continues to roll out its AI age verification system globally, experts remain cautious about whether it will effectively shield children from online harm. The company's efforts are part of a broader trend towards enhancing child safety on digital platforms in response to growing concerns over their impact on young users.