SNOW TV NEWS DESK
Meta is expanding the use of artificial intelligence to identify teenagers who lie about their ages when creating accounts on its social media platforms, in a move aimed at strengthening online safety for young users worldwide.
The technology is designed to detect accounts likely to belong to teenagers, even when users provide false dates of birth suggesting they are adults. By doing so, Meta hopes to close a loophole that allows minors to bypass age restrictions and access content and services intended for older audiences.
In an announcement on Monday, the technology company said the expanded system would initially cover more Instagram users, with millions of additional teenagers expected to benefit from its built-in safety measures. Similar technology will subsequently be introduced on Facebook and Threads.
Meta explained that its AI systems analyze account-related information to identify behavioral and other signals suggesting that a user may be under 18, regardless of the age entered during registration.
Once an account is flagged as potentially belonging to a teenager, the user is automatically placed in a Teen Account, which comes with additional restrictions. These include limits on who can contact them, the type of content they can access, and the amount of time they spend on the platforms.
The expansion reflects Meta’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence to address the challenges of protecting young people online, particularly as teenagers increasingly find ways to circumvent age-verification requirements.
According to the company, its experience with the technology since its introduction has demonstrated the need to extend the system across more countries and platforms.
For parents, the development offers an additional layer of reassurance that teenagers may receive age-appropriate protections even when they deliberately misrepresent their ages.
The initiative builds on Meta’s Teen Accounts program, which was introduced to create safer digital environments for young users across Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. The accounts come with default privacy and content restrictions intended to reduce unwanted interactions, exposure to inappropriate material, and excessive screen time.
Meta said the age-detection technology would be progressively rolled out on Facebook, while its global introduction on Threads is expected to begin later this year.
The move highlights a broader shift in social media safety, with technology companies increasingly turning to AI to identify risks that traditional age-registration systems may fail to catch.
However, the effectiveness of such measures will ultimately depend on how accurately these systems identify minors while protecting users’ privacy and avoiding incorrect age assessments.
“Sir Bartholomew White Ebe is a Lagos-based media personality, Music Artist, Producer, and a Relationship Coach and independent journalist. With over seven years of experience tracking political developments and cultural shifts in Nigeria, he specializes in local current affairs, grassroots politics, and community-driven reporting across Lagos State. As the founder and chief editor of Snow Multimedia Connect {SNOW TV}, he leads the editorial team to deliver verified, high-impact stories to digital audiences.”
Email: snowmediaconnect@gmail.com
