Instagram is launching an AI-powered system to help identify teens who may be concealing their true age. This advanced tool will analyze user photos, subscriptions, and friends’ posts to more accurately determine each user’s age.
Strengthening Teen Protection Amid Rising Concerns
The decision comes amid increasing pressure from parents and lawmakers concerned about the platform’s impact on teenage mental health. Using a new AI tool called the Adult Classifier, Meta plans to automatically shift users under 18 to accounts with stricter privacy settings, regardless of the age they entered at registration. Previously, Meta moved users to teen accounts based on self-reported age, but the new system, set to launch next year, aims to catch those attempting to bypass these age restrictions. Teens aged 16-17 will still have the option to adjust their privacy settings, while those under 16 will need parental consent to remove restrictions. Outside experts have welcomed this move, seeing it as a positive step in protecting young users.
Addressing Mental Health and Legal Concerns
Meta’s platforms have faced scrutiny over their potential impact on teenage mental health. Attorneys general across several U.S. states have filed lawsuits, alleging that Meta’s services have fostered dependence and contributed to a mental health crisis among teens. Additionally, some parents have blamed the platform for exposing their children to harmful content. In 2021, a former Meta employee, Frances Haugen, leaked internal documents suggesting that Instagram could negatively impact the mental health of teenage girls, further intensifying the public outcry.
Enhanced Verification Tools and Privacy Safeguards
In response to these concerns, Meta is implementing stricter measures for age verification, notes NIXSolutions. The system will cross-check users’ emails or unique device identifiers when creating new accounts to ensure they match previously recorded information. To confirm age, teens will be required to provide official documents or complete a video selfie verification through the Yoti app, which uses AI to authenticate age via photo analysis. If an error occurs, users can file an appeal, though this option is still in development.
With these new measures, Meta aims to create a safer environment for young users on Instagram. We’ll keep you updated on further developments as these updates roll out.