Instagram is testing AI to flag teen users and enforce safety settings

Instagram has begun testing AI-powered technology designed to proactively identify accounts it suspects belong to teens—even if the user has listed an adult birthdate—and place them under special “Teen Account” settings.

This move is part of Meta’s broader effort to strengthen parental controls following criticism over the impact its platforms have on young users.

“The digital world continues to evolve and we have to evolve with it,” Instagram said in a press release. “That’s why it’s important that we work together with parents to make sure as many teens as possible have the protective settings that come with Teen Account.”

Instagram will also begin sending notifications to parents, offering guidance on how to talk to teens about “the importance of providing the correct age online.” The company noted it collaborated with experts, including a pediatric psychologist, to develop the advice.

Teen-focused accounts, introduced by Instagram last year, come with built-in restrictions on who can contact teens, what content they can see, and limits on their time spent on the app. These changes come after 41 states and Washington, D.C., filed lawsuits against Meta in 2023, alleging that the company knowingly designed features on Facebook and Instagram that could harm teens and other young users.

So far, the company reports it has enrolled at least 54 million teens into its teen account settings.

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