Meta expands AI age checks for Instagram teens as lawsuits mount

Meta Platforms is broadening its use of AI technology to identify the ages of users on Instagram, particularly teens, as the company faces a growing number of lawsuits alleging that its platforms are harmful to young users. The AI age-estimation system will now be rolled out globally, even if users' birth dates indicate they are adults.

The expanded protections are part of Meta's Teen Accounts, which are available on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. These accounts automatically limit who can contact teens, restrict the content they see, and control their time spent on the apps. Starting this month, parents in the US can expect to receive notifications from Instagram, informing them of how teens are placed in age-appropriate protections.

In Australia, Meta is already utilizing Apple's age-range signal to help determine users' ages. The company plans to roll out similar technology globally on Threads later this year. Meta is facing multiple lawsuits over allegations that its platforms are detrimental to teens.

In August, Meta reached settlements worth up to $18 billion with nearly every US state and territory to resolve lawsuits brought by attorneys general regarding the platforms' impact on teens. As part of these settlements, Meta agreed to improve its methods for identifying teens and children under 13. Additionally, last month, Meta settled a lawsuit in Los Angeles, testing claims that Instagram and Facebook were intentionally designed to be addictive, leading to mental health issues and eating disorders among young users.