Instagram is intensifying its efforts to protect younger users on its platform by deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to identify underage individuals who misrepresent their age. This initiative, currently being tested in the US, involves AI proactively scanning accounts, even those listing adult birthdays, to detect suspected teen users and automatically apply "Teen Account" settings.
These Teen Accounts, first introduced in 2024, come with stricter privacy and content controls designed to provide a safer online environment for young users. Key features include setting accounts to private by default, limiting direct messages to only followers or existing connections, and restricting exposure to sensitive content such as graphic violence or cosmetic procedures. Additionally, teens receive notifications after 60 minutes of daily usage and have a "sleep mode" activated between 10 PM and 7 AM, muting notifications and sending auto-replies to direct messages.
Meta, Instagram's parent company, has been utilizing AI to estimate user ages for some time. The new approach, however, represents a more proactive step. The AI model analyzes various signals, including the type of content the account interacts with, profile information, and account creation details, to determine the user's age. If the AI identifies an account as belonging to an underage user, it will automatically convert it to a Teen Account.
This move comes amid increasing scrutiny of social media platforms and their impact on the mental health and well-being of younger users. Several states in the US are considering or have already passed laws requiring age verification for social media users. Moreover, there is growing pressure from parents and advocacy groups to implement stricter safety measures for children online.
Instagram also provides resources for parents, offering guidance on discussing the importance of providing accurate age information online with their teens. The platform recognizes that accurately determining the age of users is a challenge for the entire industry and emphasizes the importance of parental approval and age verification through app stores as effective methods.
While these measures are a step in the right direction, concerns remain about their effectiveness. Some experts suggest that tech-savvy teens may find ways to bypass these safety measures. There are also questions regarding the accuracy of AI tools and the potential for misclassification. To address this, Instagram offers users the option to verify their age through methods like ID uploads, peer confirmation, or video selfies if they are incorrectly classified.
