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Instagram is broadening its Teen Accounts feature, initially introduced in 2024, by incorporating new proactive technology and campaigns aimed at parents. Announced on Monday, the social media platform owned by Meta is experimenting with AI-driven age detection systems to spot teenagers who may have listed an adult birthdate. According to the company, these suspected accounts will be transitioned to Teen Accounts to shield them from potential harassment and abuse. Additionally, Instagram is initiating a process of notifying parents, encouraging them to verify the ages set on their teen's profiles. In a recent blog post, the platform revealed it has begun testing AI tools designed to detect teenage users on its app. This strategy is not entirely new, as the company previously stated that when Teen Accounts were launched in 2024, it would leverage algorithms to identify teens posing as adults.
Indicators for this identification include user interactions, since teens tend to engage more with their peers, and comments on posts that suggest a user might be younger than their stated age, such as receiving birthday wishes for a 14th birthday when their profile lists them as 20. With the implementation of AI, Instagram is intensifying its efforts to recognize teenage users. Currently, these AI age detection tools are being piloted in the United States. While Instagram has not disclosed specific methods for utilizing AI in age assessment, it mentioned that it has been employing AI technology for years to differentiate between adult and teenage users, enabling a more personalized experience, such as targeting appropriate advertisements.
Instagram acknowledges that leveraging this technology in its current application is an exploration, and there is potential for errors in classifying a user as a teenager. Therefore, users have the option to adjust their settings if they believe they have been incorrectly placed in Teen Accounts. However, this approach raises concerns regarding its overall effectiveness, particularly for teenagers who misrepresent their ages to avoid restrictions—they might be resistant to being classified as Teen Accounts. At present, users attempting to change their age from under 18 to over 18 must navigate multiple steps, including submitting a video selfie, uploading identification, or obtaining confirmation from other users regarding their age. It is anticipated that accounts suspected of being run by teens may also need to undergo one or more of these verification processes, although the company has yet to confirm this.
In addition, the Meta-owned platform is proactively sending notifications to parents on Instagram, providing guidance on how to discuss accurate age reporting with their teenagers while using social media. The company has collaborated with pediatric psychologists to offer strategies for these conversations.
