Instagram is using artificial intelligence to identify teenagers who are lying about their age and restricting their accounts

Meta uses AI to enforce age restrictions on Instagram, enrolling 54M teens in protected accounts.

: Meta utilizes artificial intelligence to identify teenagers lying about their age on Instagram and automatically enrolls them into restricted Teen Accounts if detected. The platform ensures heightened security features for users under 16, requiring parental consent to alter settings. This initiative follows the announcement of similar protections on Facebook and Messenger, with global enrollment reaching 54 million teens. Meta emphasizes collaboration with parents, notifying them about age verification for their teenagers' accounts.

Meta's recent announcement revealed its strategic use of artificial intelligence to detect and manage age appropriateness among Instagram users. This move aligns with the company's commitment to safeguarding young users through the implementation of Teen Accounts, which automatically provide built-in protections like limiting contact and content exposure for users under 16. The AI technology identifies likely teen accounts through tactics like monitoring birthday posts and reports from users, thus preventing minors from bypassing age restrictions by entering fake birthdays.

The concept of Teen Accounts emerged last year on Instagram, offering a safer space for young users with predefined protections that require parental consent for modifications. As Meta's initiatives transcend the Instagram platform, similar age-specific protections have been extended to Facebook and Messenger, reflecting a broad commitment to user safety.

In its communications, Meta highlights the role of parents, sending them notifications with guidance on discussing online age authenticity with their teens. By ensuring that account birthdays are accurate, parents play an essential role in maintaining accessibility to the protected features designed for younger users.

To date, Meta has successfully enrolled approximately 54 million teenagers worldwide in Teen Accounts, noting that a notable 97% of users between the ages of 13-15 have remained in these accounts. This indicates a positive reception and compliance with the safety measures introduced.

This ongoing implementation of AI for user safety showcases Meta's proactive stance in protecting younger audiences in the ever-evolving digital landscape. Hence, the initiative requires continuous evaluation and adaptation to ensure that technological advancements are applied efficiently for maximum benefit to its global user base.

Sources: TechCrunch, Meta Blog

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