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Instagram AI age estimation. Meta has announced that its artificial intelligence-based age estimation technology, previously available on Instagram only in select countries, will now be extended worldwide. The stated objective is to identify users who enter a false date of birth during registration and automatically apply the protections designated for minors.
An exception will be made for Australia, where the company will use the solution developed by Apple for the iOS operating system. Dedicated accounts for teenagers were introduced on Instagram in September 2024 and subsequently, at the beginning of April 2025, on Facebook and Messenger.
Instagram AI age estimation: why it matters
These profiles feature a set of default restrictions: the profile is private by default, potentially sensitive content is blocked, and messages can only be sent by people already known. These measures were designed to make the social media experience more controlled and secure for younger users.
To estimate the age of the person managing a profile, Meta’s system analyzes various signals, including images depicting birthdays, as well as comments and published posts. The system’s behavior varies depending on the analysis outcome: if the estimated age is under 13 years old, the account is closed; if the assessment indicates an age between 13 and 17 years, the restrictions intended for teenage accounts are activated.
Meta had initially communicated that the analysis also included height and bone structure present in photos and videos. However, this information was removed from the website on July 30, after remaining online until the previous day, July 31.
Until now, the feature was available only in a limited number of countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, the European Union, and Brazil. In Europe, the European Commission had determined that age verification was not effective, constituting a violation of the Digital Services Act.
What changes and what are the effects
According to Meta, the results obtained so far are positive and justify the global expansion of the tool. This rollout is part of the commitments made in an agreement signed at the end of August. In the United States, parents will receive a notification containing a video that explains how age estimation works on Instagram.
In Australia, the approach differs and relies on Apple’s solution: when parents set up their children’s smartphones, they can specify an age range. This information is sent to developers at the time of app download, which must then verify if the application is suitable for that user.
Meta highlights that several countries have introduced mandatory age verification with non-uniform approaches. In some cases, regulations do not specify which technology to use, while in others they require the collection of sensitive data. The Menlo Park-based company will also extend AI estimation to Facebook, where it is currently available only in the United States, and to Threads by the end of the year.
Source and further reading on Instagram AI age estimation: original article.
* Content created with the assistance of artificial intelligence systems.