INSTAGRAM ENHANCES TEEN SAFETY WITH AI AGE VERIFICATION

Instagram is strengthening its commitment to protecting young users by launching an artificial intelligence tool to identify teenagers who misrepresent their age, a new safety initiative from its parent company, Meta Platforms.

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This technology ensures teens are directed to restricted accounts that limit exposure to harmful content, addressing concerns about underage access to inappropriate material.

The AI tool analyzes user behavior, such as follower networks and content interactions, to detect accounts likely belonging to those under 18. Flagged accounts transition to teen accounts with robust privacy settings, including private profiles and restricted messaging. Teens under 16 require parental consent to modify these controls, while those 16 and older can adjust them independently. This system builds on Instagram's partnership with Yoti, a U.K. firm using facial age estimation through video selfies since 2022 to verify user ages.

The effort responds to rising concerns from parents and regulators about social media's impact on teen mental health. A 2021 Meta study highlighted Instagram's potential to worsen body image concerns for some teenage girls, amplifying demands for stringent safeguards. The U.S. Senate's Kids Online Safety Act, awaiting House approval, would mandate protections against harmful content, urging Meta to act proactively.

Parents gain access to supervision tools that reveal their teens' recent messaging contacts and content preferences without viewing private messages. Teens can customize their Explore page with age-appropriate topics, ensuring a tailored, safe browsing experience.

A sleep mode, active from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., silences notifications to encourage healthier digital habits.