Meta Deploys AI to Detect Minors on Facebook and Instagram

Meta Leverages AI to Protect Young Users

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced that it will use artificial intelligence to analyze users' photos and videos to detect those who may be under 13 years old. This measure aims to enhance the safety of children on its platforms. The AI will examine visual cues such as individuals' height and bone structure to estimate their age, without resorting to facial recognition.

Meta clarified that the goal is not to identify individuals but to spot general visual indicators to estimate age. By combining this data with text and interaction analysis, the company hopes to increase the number of identified and removed minor accounts. This system is already in place in some countries, and Meta plans to expand it to other regions.

A Comprehensive Strategy to Limit Children's Access

This initiative is part of a broader effort by Meta to prevent children under 13 from accessing its platforms. The company uses AI to analyze profiles for contextual signals, such as mentions of birthdays or school grades. These indicators are searched in various formats, including posts, comments, and bios. Meta plans to extend this technology to other features of its apps, such as Instagram Live and Facebook Groups.

When a user is identified as potentially underage, Meta disables their account. The user must then prove their age through the company's verification process to avoid account deletion.

Legal Context and Pressures on Meta

This announcement comes amid a tense legal backdrop for Meta. A jury in New Mexico recently ordered the company to pay $375 million for misleading consumers about the safety of its platforms, thereby putting children at risk. This ruling has forced Meta to make significant changes to its services, and the company has even threatened to withdraw its platforms from the state.

This case is just one of many lawsuits that Meta and other tech giants face regarding child safety.

Expansion of Teen Accounts

In parallel, Meta has announced the expansion of its "Teen Accounts" technology to 27 countries in the European Union and Brazil. These accounts provide a safer experience for teenagers by limiting direct messages to only those they follow and hiding harmful comments. The accounts are also set to private by default.

Meta also plans to introduce this technology on Facebook in the United States, followed by the UK and the EU in June. This expansion aims to strengthen the protection of young users on its platforms.