Instagram knows you’re lying about your age. But how?
Instagram’s AI may be getting better at figuring out how old some of its users are.
Instagram is expanding its Teen Accounts feature, which is designed to control the content younger users see on the app. Restrictions first introduced in the US are now rolling out in Canada.
The feature aims to limit communication with unwanted accounts and filter unsuitable content.
Nevertheless, young people often lie about their age when registering for social media and put the incorrect date, claiming that they’re at least 18. To tackle this issue, Instagram’s AI will now automatically change the account to Teen Account settings if the owner seems younger than 18.
The AI-powered feature is meant to protect underage kids from harmful or inappropriate content by limiting who can contact them via direct messages and filtering the content they see on the feed.
While there’s a chance that AI can make an error and flag a user who is actually an adult, in this case, they will be able to change their account settings.
To create a safe digital space for its younger users, Instagram will also involve parents by sending them tips curated by pediatric psychologist Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart. The tips will focus on ensuring kids use their real date of birth when registering for social media apps, reports Android Central.
Some Teen Accounts protection features have also been added to kids’ accounts managed by their parents or representatives. This implementation is to ensure that people who run these accounts won’t take advantage of them by “leaving sexualized comments under their posts or asking for sexual images in DMs,” states Meta.
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