The Pulse
Meta Expands AI Age Estimation for Teens Worldwide
Meta is expanding AI age estimation globally to place millions more Instagram teens in Teen Account protections, even if they entered an adult birthday. The company also describes plans for Facebook and Threads, an Apple age-range signal in
AI.info Team · Written with AI · fact-checked ·
Instagram age estimation goes global
Meta says it is expanding AI age-estimation technology globally to place millions more teens who use Instagram in Teen Account protections. Its technology identifies people it suspects are teens, including those who use an adult birthday, and places them in those protections. Instagram Teen Accounts automatically limit who can contact teens, the content they see and their time on Meta’s apps. Meta says it has been placing more teens in age-appropriate protections since introducing the technology and is expanding it based on those results.
Facebook rollout continues, with Threads planned
The rollout is continuing on Facebook, and Meta plans to begin launching similar technology globally on Threads later this year. The expansion builds on Meta’s recent agreement with 52 bipartisan attorneys general to strengthen how it identifies teens and children under 13 on its apps. As part of the agreement, Meta is investing in stronger technology to proactively catch accounts that may belong to children under 13; it is also strengthening technology to identify teens ages 13 to 17, even if they give an adult birthday.
Instagram will explain the approach to parents
Parents in the United States will begin seeing an in-feed video on Instagram explaining Meta’s approach to placing teens in age-appropriate protections, the company said. The video links to an article by Larry Magid, whom Meta identifies as an internet safety advocate and President and CEO of ConnectSafely. The article details Meta’s approach to keeping children under 13 off its platforms, providing age-appropriate experiences for teens and ways parents can help ensure teens give their correct age online; it is available to parents worldwide, Meta says.
Apple’s age-range signal is in use in Australia
In Australia, Meta has begun using Apple’s age-range signal as another way to understand age. When a parent sets up a smartphone for a teen, the parent can have the app store confirm the device user’s age and assign an age range. Apple then passes that range to the app developer each time the teen downloads an app, indicating whether the teen meets the app’s age requirement. Meta is using the signal voluntarily and argues that optional collection and sharing by app stores, and optional use by developers, leave teens with inconsistent protections across apps.
Meta supports legislation requiring age verification and parental consent at the app-store level. It argues that a verified device signal shared consistently with apps is far more effective and privacy-preserving than asking each platform to verify age individually, and says developers’ age estimates can help correct mistakes. Laws in countries around the world do not always explain how technology companies should determine a user’s age, Meta says: some require invasive checks for everyone, while others offer no guidance. The company is calling on TikTok and YouTube to adopt the same practices.