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Meta deploys AI to detect underage Instagram users
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Meta’s new AI initiative for age verification: Meta is implementing an AI-powered “adult classifier” tool on Instagram to identify users who have misrepresented their age, automatically transitioning them to restricted accounts.

  • The AI tool will analyze user profiles, examining followers, content, and engagement patterns to determine age.
  • The system will even look for unexpected “happy birthday” posts from friends as part of its age verification process.
  • Users will be categorized into two groups: those over 18 and those under 18, with the latter being moved to Instagram teen accounts with enhanced security and content restrictions.

Key features of the age verification system: The new AI tool aims to enhance online safety for younger users while providing options for age confirmation and appeals.

  • Users identified as 16 or 17 will have the ability to modify their account settings and restrictions independently.
  • Those categorized as under 16 will require a parent or guardian to make changes to their account settings.
  • Meta will allow users to appeal the AI’s decision and offer alternative methods for age verification, such as uploading government-issued ID or sharing a video selfie through Yoti.

Context and motivations: Meta’s implementation of this AI tool comes in response to growing concerns about the safety of minors on social media platforms.

  • The company has faced legal challenges, including a lawsuit filed by 33 attorneys general accusing Meta of implementing features that negatively impact minors’ mental and physical health.
  • Meta’s attempt to have the case dismissed was unsuccessful, potentially influencing the development of this new age verification system.
  • This initiative follows other recent safety measures implemented by Meta, such as Teen Accounts and restrictions on direct messages from strangers.

Technical considerations: While the AI tool represents a significant step in age verification, questions remain about its accuracy and implementation.

  • Meta has not disclosed specific information about the accuracy rate of the adult classifier tool.
  • The company previously used a system where users could vouch for their friends’ ages, but this method has been discontinued.
  • The use of AI for age verification raises potential privacy concerns and questions about the ethical implications of automated decision-making in this context.

Broader implications: Meta’s AI-powered age verification system could set a precedent for other social media platforms and online services.

  • If successful, this approach might be adopted by other companies seeking to address concerns about underage users and online safety.
  • However, the effectiveness and potential unintended consequences of such AI-driven age verification systems remain to be seen, potentially sparking debates about privacy, accuracy, and the role of AI in online governance.
Meta to Use AI to Find Kids Lying About Their Ages on Instagram

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