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Meta is globally expanding the age estimation technology it uses to find teenagers on Instagram who haven\u2019t correctly disclosed their age. The rollout will automatically place \u201cmillions more teens on Instagram into Teen Account protections,\u201d according to Meta\u2019s announcement<\/a>, after launching the AI-powered age assurance updates<\/a> in the US, EU, and Brazil last year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 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 \u201cgeneral themes and visual cues\u201d from uploaded photos and videos, including height and bone structure<\/a>. Meta says that it\u2019s also started using Apple\u2019s age-range signal as an additional detection method in Australia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Parents 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\u2019t be adjusted by users who are 16 or younger without a parent\u2019s or guardian\u2019s 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\u2019s age is accurately reflected on the platform.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n This global expansion follows a $17.1 billion lawsuit settlement<\/a> in August in which Meta agreed to bolster its age assurance practices and place heavier restrictions on teen users. Meta hasn\u2019t mentioned if or when automatic age assurance checks on Facebook, which rolled out to US accounts<\/a> in May, will also be expanded to other regions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n