Instagram is stepping up efforts to protect teenagers online by using artificial intelligence (AI) to detect underage users.
Parent company Meta announced the changes on Monday, saying the app will now actively search for accounts created by users who lied about their age.
The platform has used AI to guess users’ ages before, but this new strategy is more direct and detailed, Meta said.
AI systems will analyse profile details, account activity and interactions with content to spot signs that a user may be underage.
If Instagram finds that a user has misrepresented their age, the account will be reclassified into the teen category for added protection.
Teen accounts are private by default, and messaging is limited to people the user already follows or is friends with.
Content considered sensitive – such as violent videos or cosmetic surgery posts – will also be restricted for teen accounts.
After 60 minutes of use, teen users will see a reminder to take a break from the app, Meta explained.
A “sleep mode” will also switch off notifications and send automatic replies to messages from 10pm to 7am.
Instagram will notify parents, encouraging them to talk to their children about giving honest age information online.
These updates come as pressure increases on tech firms to address social media’s impact on young people’s mental health.
In the United States, several states are pushing for age checks on platforms, though some efforts face legal obstacles.
Meta believes app stores, not social platforms, should be responsible for verifying users’ ages.
