Meta expands AI age-detection tools globally to catch teens faking birthdays on Instagram

Meta is rolling out its AI-powered age-detection technology across the world to find Instagram users who are actually teenagers but put in fake birth dates to look like adults. This global expansion will place more users aged 13 to 17 under Instagram's Teen Account safety settings. These specific protections help block contact from unwanted people, restrict sensitive content, and limit screen time.

Rollout Details

Parents in the US will get notifications this month explaining how Instagram finds teens and applies these restrictions. Meta is also bringing similar AI age detectors to Facebook and plans to introduce comparable measures globally on Threads later this year. In Australia, the company has started using Apple's age-range signal to check if a user is old enough for an app. This lets parents set up kids' smartphones so the app store shares an age range with developers.

Policy Push

Meta stated it is using Apple's signal voluntarily, but believes protections will stay uneven unless app stores and developers are forced to share ages. The firm is asking for laws that require app stores to verify user ages and get parental consent. Such a standard process would stop individual platforms from needing separate checks. Meta is also spending money on tech to find accounts belonging to kids under 13, who are barred from using its platforms.

Context

Social media companies face growing pressure from governments worldwide to protect young users from online harms. Different countries currently have varying rules for age checks, with some demanding official government ID numbers. Meta first launched Instagram Teen Accounts in September 2024 to automatically set safety levels for minors.