Instagram is stepping up efforts to keep young users safe by using artificial intelligence to identify teenagers who sign up with adult birthdates. In a move to strengthen its safety measures, the platform announced that it will begin testing AI to proactively detect teens using adult accounts and shift them into more secure “teen accounts.”
Teen accounts come with built-in safety features, such as restrictions on who can message them, tighter content controls, and limitations on certain features. Instagram has recently barred users under 16 from using the Live feature and now requires parental approval to disable content filters that blur nude images in DMs.
While Instagram already uses AI to estimate users’ ages, this new feature aims to identify misrepresented birthdates before harm can occur. If the system incorrectly flags a user, they will have the option to adjust their account settings accordingly.
In addition, Instagram will notify parents with accounts on the platform, offering guidance on how to talk to their children about the importance of providing their correct age when signing up.
The update comes amid legal scrutiny, as Instagram’s parent company, Meta, faces lawsuits — including one from the state of California — for allegedly failing to adequately protect minors on its platforms.
According to Instagram, more than 54 million teens globally are currently enrolled in teen accounts, with the majority of users aged 13 to 15 choosing to maintain the safer settings.
As Instagram puts it, “The digital world continues to evolve and we have to evolve with it.”
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