Meta extends AI age estimation on Instagram to users worldwide

Meta is taking the artificial intelligence system it uses to estimate the age of Instagram users beyond its first markets and applying it globally, The Verge reports. The technology was first introduced in the US, the EU and Brazil last year. Meta says the wider rollout will move "millions more teens" into its Teen Account protections.

How the system works

Instead of relying only on the birth date entered at sign-up, the tool looks for signs that an account belongs to someone under 18. According to the report, these include:

• the profiles and kinds of content a user engages with;
• birthday messages the account receives;
• general themes and visual cues in posted photos and videos, including height and bone structure.

In Australia, Meta has also begun using Apple's age-range signal as an extra source of information.

Accounts that appear to belong to children under 13, the minimum age for Meta's social platforms, are removed. Users judged to be between 13 and 17 are placed into Teen Accounts, even if they registered with a false adult birthday.

What Teen Accounts change

Teen Accounts are private by default, restrict the types of content teenagers can see and block direct messages from strangers. Parents and guardians can opt to supervise these accounts, setting time limits and reviewing how the app is used. Users aged 16 or younger cannot change Teen Account settings without a parent's or guardian's approval.

Meta says parents in the US will receive an Instagram notification next month explaining the age estimation process and how to make sure their teen's age is recorded correctly.

Background

The expansion comes after a $17.1 billion lawsuit settlement in August, under which Meta agreed to strengthen its age assurance measures and impose tighter limits on teenage users. Automatic age checks on Facebook began for US accounts in May, but Meta has not said whether or when they will reach other regions.

What it means for internet users

The move reflects a broader shift across online services toward estimating users' ages from behaviour and content rather than trusting self-reported details. Families, schools and anyone managing accounts for young people may want to review platform settings and check that registered ages are accurate, while users in general can expect age checks to become a more common part of social media.