Meta’s AI spots teens dodging Instagram age rules

Think you’re fooling Instagram about your age? Think again. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, is rolling out some serious AI tech. Its goal? To sniff out those sneaky teens trying to bypass age restrictions.

Here’s the deal. Even if your profile says you’re an adult, Meta’s AI might disagree. If the AI suspects you’re a teen, BAM! Your account gets switched to a “Teen Account. ”

Why does this matter? Teen Accounts come with guardrails. Think privacy settings cranked up, messaging limits, and restrictions on certain content.

Why Now?

Meta says it’s all about protecting young users. Parents are busy. They don’t always have time to micromanage their kids’ online settings. Meta’s stepping in.

They want to make sure as many teens as possible are using these safer Teen Account settings. Fair enough, right?

What Exactly Changes?

Teen Accounts have some key differences:

• Privacy First: Accounts are private by default.
• Messaging Limits: Teens can only be messaged by people they follow. No random DMs from strangers.
• Content Control: Bye-bye, sensitive content. Think fighting videos or ads for cosmetic surgery.
• Time-Outs: A little nudge to take a break. Reminders pop up after 60 minutes of daily use.

These accounts aren’t new. Meta launched them last year. They say over 54 million teens globally are already using them on Instagram.

False Alarm?

Worried the AI might get it wrong? Don’t sweat it. If Meta mistakenly tags you as a teen, you can appeal the decision and change your settings back.

The Bigger Picture

Meta’s been working on age-detecting AI for a while now. Since 2022, they’ve been using things like account creation date and how you interact with content to guess your age.

And they’re not alone. Social media companies are under pressure to protect younger users. It’s a tricky balance between safety and privacy.

One thing’s for sure: Instagram’s getting smarter. Are you ready for it?