Menlo Park:Meta has announced a global expansion of its artificial intelligence-powered age-estimation technology to enhance protections for teenage users on Instagram. This technology aims to ensure that users suspected of being teenagers, even those who registered with adult birth dates, are identified and given appropriate safeguards.

According to Anadolu Agency ‚¬€œ English, the accounts flagged as belonging to teenagers will automatically receive age-appropriate protections. These Teen Accounts will have restrictions on who can contact the users, the content they can access, and the time spent on the platform. Meta has also indicated that it is extending this technology to Facebook and plans to introduce a similar system for Threads later this year.

The initiative is part of a broader commitment by Meta following an agreement with 52 attorneys general from U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia. This agreement is designed to improve the identification of teenage users and children under the age of 13. Meta is also taking steps to inform parents in the U.S. about these protections through Instagram, emphasizing the importance of accurate age information.

In Australia, Meta has begun using age-range data shared by Apple as an additional method to verify users' ages. The company is advocating for consistent protective measures across different social media platforms, urging competitors like TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar practices.

As part of the agreement announced in August, Meta is committed to introducing further safeguards for young users. These include daily usage limits, default nighttime restrictions, muted notifications during school hours, and expanded parental controls.