Meta is expanding its use of AI age-estimation systems globally to place more Instagram users into teen accounts. The technology, already deployed in the US, EU, and Brazil, estimates user age to funnel those aged 13-17 into restricted teen accounts, even if they provided an adult date of birth at signup. Teen accounts feature age-appropriate protections, including private profiles, default restrictions on stranger messaging, daily app time limits, and parental controls.
In Australia, Meta is integrating Apple's age-range system as an additional signal. The company is also extending AI age-estimation to Facebook and plans to bring the tech to Threads later this year. This expansion follows Meta's August settlement with 52 attorneys general, totaling up to $18 billion, where the company pledged to invest in stronger technology to proactively catch accounts belonging to children under 13 and those aged 13 to 17.
Meta will soon notify US parents on Instagram about how teens are placed into these accounts, explaining the systems' use of bone structure analysis and analysis of users mentioning school grades or birthday celebrations to estimate age.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing