TechNewsMetaInstagram’s AI age detection is expanding globallyMeta says it will expand Teen Account protections to millions more kids, even if they’ve misrepresented their age.Meta says it will expand Teen Account protections to millions more kids, even if they’ve misrepresented their age.by Jess WeatherbedNov 9, 2026, 12:00 PM UTCShareGiftImage: Cath Virginia / The VergePart OfLet me see some ID: age verification is spreading across the internetsee all updates Jess Weatherbed is a news writer focused on creative industries, computing, and internet culture. Jess started her career at TechRadar, covering news and hardware reviews.Meta is globally expanding the age estimation technology it uses to find teenagers on Instagram who haven’t correctly disclosed their age. The rollout will automatically place “millions more teens on Instagram into Teen Account protections,” according to Meta’s announcement, after launching the AI-powered age assurance updates in the US, EU, and Brazil last year.The age detection tools proactively look for signals that likely determine whether Instagram users are under 18 years old, such as the other profiles and types of content they interact with, birthday messages they receive, and “general themes and visual cues” from uploaded photos and videos, including height and bone structure. Meta says that it’s also started using Apple’s age-range signal as an additional detection method in Australia.The age assurance system is used to remove Instagram users who are believed to be under 13 (the minimum age required for Meta social accounts), and automatically place users between 13-17 under more restrictive Teen Accounts, even if they signed up using a fake adult birthday.
Teen Accounts are designed to provide a safer and more age-appropriate experience by being private by default, limiting what kind of content teens can see, and preventing strangers from sending them DMs.RelatedAll the ways Instagram and Facebook are changing for teensMeta isn’t doing enough to keep kids off Facebook and Instagram, rules EUParents and guardians can also choose to supervise Teen Accounts to set time limits and monitor how their child is using Instagram. Teen Account settings can’t be adjusted by users who are 16 or younger without a parent’s or guardian’s permission. Meta says that parents in the US will start receiving a notification on Instagram next month that explains the age estimation process, and how they can ensure their teen’s age is accurately reflected on the platform.This global expansion follows a $17.1 billion lawsuit settlement in August in which Meta agreed to bolster its age assurance practices and place heavier restrictions on teen users. Meta hasn’t mentioned if or when automatic age assurance checks on Facebook, which rolled out to US accounts in May, will also be expanded to other regions.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jess WeatherbedInstagramMetaNewsTechGreece is banning kids from using social media.Jess WeatherbedOct 23Florida can enforce social media ban for kids, appeals court rules.Emma RothOct 15Discord will now automatically estimate your ageJess WeatherbedSep 23Most PopularHere’s the full text of Jensen Huang’s memo to NvidiaThere’s no slowing down media’s pivot-to-video 2.0Nvidia is investigating Jensen Huang’s relationship with a Chinese spyApple’s M5 MacBook Air is down to its lowest price since JulyGood riddance, Cybertruck!Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native ad
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