Meta expands Instagram’s AI age checks worldwide

The system assesses signals including the accounts and content a user engages with, birthday messages they receive, and themes and visual cues in photos and videos. Meta says these can include a person’s height and bone structure. In Australia, the company has also begun using Apple’s age-range signal as an additional detection method.

Meta uses age estimates to remove users it believes are under 13, the minimum age for its social accounts, and to place those aged 13 to 17 in Teen Accounts—even if they registered with a false adult birth date. Teen Accounts are private by default, limit the content teens can see and prevent strangers from sending them direct messages. Parents and guardians can supervise accounts, set time limits and monitor use. Users aged 16 or younger cannot change Teen Account settings without a parent’s or guardian’s permission.

Meta says parents in the US will begin receiving an Instagram notification next month explaining the age estimation process and how to ensure their teen’s age is accurately recorded. The worldwide rollout follows an August settlement of a $17.1 billion lawsuit, under which Meta agreed to strengthen age assurance and impose heavier restrictions on teen users. The company has not said whether or when automatic age checks on Facebook, introduced for US accounts in May, will expand to other regions.