Saira Imran 
Meta Expands AI System to Detect Underage Instagram Users
Meta is expanding its artificial intelligence system worldwide to identify underage users on Instagram. The new system aims to find teenagers who enter a false date of birth to appear as adults.
The technology will help Instagram identify users who may be under 18, even if their profiles show an adult age. Meta plans to place these users in its special Teen Accounts system, which offers additional safety features.
The company says the move will help protect young users and give them an online experience suitable for their age.
How Instagram’s New AI System Works
Instagram will use artificial intelligence to study different details from a user’s profile. The system will not depend only on the date of birth entered during registration.
It can look for clues in posts, comments, profile details, captions, and other account activity. For example, references to school grades or birthday celebrations may help the system estimate a user’s age.
Meta has also described using visual clues from photos and videos as part of its wider age-estimation work. These signals help the company identify accounts that may belong to teenagers.
If the system suspects that an account belongs to someone under 18, Instagram may move it to a Teen Account, even if the user has entered an adult date of birth.
Source: Express News
What Are Instagram Teen Accounts?
Meta introduced Teen Accounts in September 2024 for users aged 13 to 17. These accounts include extra safety settings to protect teenagers from unwanted contact and unsuitable content.
Some key protections include:
- Private accounts: Teen accounts have stricter privacy settings by default.
- Limited messages: Teenagers can receive messages from people they follow or already know.
- Comment protection: Instagram hides potentially harmful comments.
- Content controls: The platform limits access to content that may not suit younger users.
- Time management: Teen Accounts include tools to help manage time spent on the app.
These settings aim to give teenagers a safer experience while using Instagram.
Meta Plans a Worldwide Rollout
Meta announced that it is expanding its AI age-estimation technology across Instagram worldwide.
The company is also continuing to introduce similar technology on Facebook. It plans to begin a global rollout of similar protections on Threads later in 2026.
Meta also said that parents in the United States will start receiving information through Instagram videos. These videos will explain how the platform identifies teenage users and applies age-based safety settings.
The company says it wants more teenagers to receive these protections, even when they provide incorrect age details during account registration.
Why Is Meta Introducing This System?
Social media safety has become a major concern for parents and governments. Many teenagers try to bypass age restrictions by entering a false date of birth.
Meta says its AI technology can help identify these accounts and apply suitable protections. The company is also facing legal pressure over concerns about the impact of social media on young users.
In August 2026, Meta reached settlements worth up to $18 billion with nearly every US state and territory over lawsuits related to alleged harm to teenagers. The company has also agreed to improve how it identifies teenagers and children under 13.
Meta says it will continue improving its age-detection technology to identify underage users across its platforms.
