Meta announced the global expansion of automated age-estimation technology this month, using artificial intelligence to identify users suspected of being teenagers despite providing adult birth dates. The company stated it will automatically place such accounts into Teen Account protections, which enforce stricter limitations on messaging, content access, and platform usage duration.
The age-estimation system analyzes user behavior and posted content to determine account holders’ ages. Meta has been testing the technology in several countries including the US, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Parents in the United States managing Instagram accounts for teenagers will receive notifications this month regarding the new protective measures. The company indicated it will extend the age estimation algorithm to Facebook and Threads later in the year.
Teen accounts are subject to multiple restrictions designed to limit potential harms. These include daily usage caps, delayed notifications during nighttime hours, blocked access to engagement metrics like likes and reactions, and mandatory break prompts during extended sessions. Children under 13 years old remain prohibited from using Meta’s platforms entirely.
The expansion follows significant legal pressure and substantial financial settlements. In August, Meta agreed to pay $18 billion to US state attorneys general and implement comprehensive changes to its teen user protections. The settlement addressed allegations that Meta’s platforms encourage addictive behavior, inadequately verify user ages, and fail to prevent minors from circumventing parental controls. The company also faces ongoing legal challenges regarding teen safety, including lawsuits contesting recent age restriction laws in other jurisdictions.
In its announcement, Meta called on competitors including TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar age-detection and protective measures across the industry.
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