Meta is expanding its artificial intelligence (AI) technology globally to identify teenagers who misrepresent their ages online and automatically place them under protective settings designed for younger users.
The expansion means millions more teenagers on Instagram will benefit from built-in Teen Account features, even if they register with adult birth dates to bypass age restrictions.
Teen Accounts, available on Instagram, Facebook and Messenger, automatically limit who can contact teenagers, the content they can view and the time they spend on the platforms.
The technology addresses a persistent challenge for social media companies, as some teenagers provide false dates of birth to access experiences intended for adults.
Meta said its AI technology analyses signals that may indicate a user is a teenager, helping identify accounts with potentially inaccurate age information and apply the appropriate restrictions.
The global rollout is expected to bring more young users under these protections, reducing their exposure to inappropriate content and unwanted interactions while encouraging healthier screen-time habits.
Parents will also have greater peace of mind, as the system can identify teenagers who attempt to bypass age requirements, regardless of the birth date provided during registration.
Meta said it is continuing to deploy the technology on Facebook and plans to introduce similar AI-powered age detection capabilities globally on Threads later this year.
The initiative forms part of the company’s broader efforts to create more age-appropriate digital experiences for young users across its platforms.