Meta is introducing stricter controls for teenagers’ Instagram accounts using artificial intelligence (AI). According to The Verge, the platform will now automatically adjust account settings if it suspects that a user has overstated their age. In such cases, Instagram may identify the user as a minor and activate restrictions, even without confirmation.
Since 2024, Instagram has been using AI to infer age based on indirect indicators—such as birthday messages mentioning turning 16 in private chats—and patterns of behavior. Teen users tend to engage with content in similar ways, and the system uses these trends to help identify them. Accounts of users under 18 are set to private by default. Strangers cannot message these users directly, and age-restricted content is limited for them.
With the new update, Meta is strengthening its efforts to identify minors who falsify their age in their profiles. If the AI system concludes that an account belongs to a teenager, Instagram will automatically activate a restricted mode. However, recognizing that AI may not always be accurate, Meta has left the option for users to revert to previous settings manually.
Increased pressure on tech companies prompts action
These measures are part of a broader shift in Meta’s child protection policies. The European Union is currently investigating whether the company is adequately protecting younger users, following reports of harassment involving minors. Some of these incidents have even led to lawsuits in the United States, adding to the pressure on the tech giant.
The question of accountability for children’s safety online remains a divisive one among major tech companies, notes NIXsolutions. In March, Google accused Meta of shifting responsibility to app stores after Utah passed a law requiring parental permission for under-18s to use social media at night, between 10:30 pm and morning hours. Other companies, including Snap and X, have also been drawn into this wider debate.
Experts note that these changes reflect the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of tech companies regarding child safety. Still, it remains uncertain how precise AI-based age detection can be, and whether the updates will cause inconvenience for regular users. Testing of the new features will begin in the United States—and we’ll keep you updated as more integrations become available.