Meta deploys AI to detect underage Instagram users

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.