Instagram Tests AI to Catch Teens Faking Their Age
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Instagram is ramping up its efforts to protect younger users by testing artificial intelligence tools that can detect whether teens are pretending to be adults on the platform. Parent company Meta announced that the app will now proactively review accounts for signs of age misrepresentation—even if a user entered a false birthdate at signup.
If Instagram’s AI determines a user is underage, their account will be automatically converted into a teen profile, which includes stricter privacy settings, limited messaging capabilities, and restricted access to sensitive content. Teen accounts will also receive reminders to take breaks after 60 minutes of use and will have a “sleep mode” that silences notifications and replies to messages between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
This move comes as social media companies face growing pressure from lawmakers and parents to better safeguard minors online. With AI trained to evaluate content interaction, profile details, and account history, Instagram hopes to create a safer space for teens—while encouraging app stores to take on more responsibility for age verification across platforms.
