Meta rolls out AI tools worldwide to spot teens lying about age on Instagram

Meta is rolling out its AI-powered age-estimation technology globally on Instagram to find users who enter an adult date of birth but are actually under 18.

How The AI Works

The technology looks at profiles for clues like birthday posts, school mentions, and visual signals from photos and videos such as height or bone structure. It scans captions, bios, comments, and posts to catch users trying to bypass rules.

Safeguards And Settlements

Users found to be between 13 and 17 are placed into Teen Accounts with private defaults, hidden bad comments, and message limits. Meta announced this global expansion on Monday, November 9, following a settlement worth up to $18 billion with nearly every US state and territory in August.

Global Context

Countries like India are exploring strict measures like bans for teen users, while Australia banned social media for under-16 users in 2025. Experts warn that these age assurance tools pose risks to user privacy and security.

Context

Social media platforms face growing pressure from governments worldwide regarding teen safety and mental health. Companies use automated tools to comply with legal settlements and changing regulations across different countries.