Instagram is enhancing its Teen Accounts feature, initially introduced in 2024, by incorporating new proactive technologies and outreach initiatives aimed at parents. The announcement, made on Monday, reveals that the Meta-owned platform is testing AI-powered age detection tools designed to identify teenagers who have incorrectly listed their age as adults. Users flagged by this system will be transitioned to Teen Accounts, offering them increased protection from potential online harassment and abuse. Concurrently, Instagram will notify parents, encouraging them to verify the age settings on their teenagers’ accounts.
Instagram to Proactively Identify Teenagers on Its Platform
In a blog post, Instagram announced the ongoing tests of AI tools to identify teen users on the app. This initiative is not entirely new; when Teen Accounts were first launched, the platform revealed plans to employ algorithms for spotting users who misrepresented their age as adults.
Indicators used for this process include user engagement patterns—since teenagers typically interact more with their peers—and comments that may reveal an inconsistency, such as a birthday greeting for a user claiming to be 20 years old while they are actually 14. With the introduction of AI, Instagram aims to bolster its capabilities for identifying underage users, with initial tests currently taking place in the United States.
Although Instagram has not disclosed specific methodologies for employing AI in age detection, it emphasized its history of utilizing AI technology for the past several years. Previously, this technology focused on differentiating between adult and teenage users to tailor their experiences on the platform, such as serving age-appropriate advertisements.
Instagram acknowledges that applying this technology for age identification is a new frontier, recognizing the potential for error in misclassifying users as teenagers. To mitigate this issue, users mistakenly placed in Teen Accounts can modify their settings. This approach, however, presents a challenge; teenagers attempting to disguise themselves as adults to avoid restrictions may not welcome being classified as Teens.
Currently, when users attempt to alter their age from under 18 to over 18, they must complete multiple verification steps. This process may involve recording a video selfie, uploading an identification document, or obtaining age confirmation from other users. It remains uncertain whether users flagged as potential teenagers will be required to undergo one or more of these verification processes, as Instagram has not provided clarity on this matter.
In addition, the platform is distributing notifications to parents on Instagram, offering guidance on how to engage in discussions with their teenagers about accurately reporting their age on social media. The company has collaborated with pediatric psychologists to develop these conversation tips.
