Instagram tries using AI to determine if teens are pretending to be adults
Instagram is beginning to test the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to determine if kids are lying about their ages on the app, parent company Meta Platforms said on Monday.
Meta stated that it has been using AI to estimate users’ ages for some time. However, the photo and video-sharing platform will now “proactively” identify accounts it suspects belong to teenagers, even if an inaccurate birthdate was entered during registration.
If it is determined that a user is misrepresenting their age, the account will automatically be converted into a teen account, which has more restrictions than an adult account. Teen accounts are private by default, and private messages are restricted so that teens can only receive messages from people they follow or are already connected to. Meta added that “sensitive content,” including videos depicting fights or promoting cosmetic procedures, will be restricted. Teens will also receive notifications if they spend more than 60 minutes on Instagram, while a “sleep mode” will be activated, turning off notifications and sending automatic replies to direct messages from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am.
Meta explained that its AI is trained to analyse signals such as the type of content the account interacts with, profile information, and the account’s creation date to determine the user’s age.
These measures come as social media companies face growing scrutiny over how their platforms impact the mental health and well-being of younger users. An increasing number of states are attempting to pass age verification laws, though many have faced legal challenges.
Meta and other social media companies have expressed support for placing the responsibility on app stores to verify users’ ages, amid criticism that they fail to adequately safeguard their platforms for children or ensure that users under the age of 13 are not accessing them.
In addition, Instagram will notify parents with information on how to discuss with their teens the importance of providing accurate age information online, Meta said.
By RSS/AP
