Meta is introducing AI-driven technology to improve age verification for users on Facebook and Instagram, addressing regulatory requirements in Europe, Brazil, and the United States. This effort is focused on more effectively identifying and limiting access for users below the age of 13, while also ensuring that teenagers aged 13-17 are provided with age-appropriate content.
The company’s strategy entails utilizing AI to evaluate users’ facial characteristics to estimate their ages, though Meta clarifies that this does not imply facial recognition. The technology is crafted to pick up visual indicators, including height and bone structure, to yield a general age approximation without pinpointing specific individuals.
Alongside facial assessment, Meta utilizes AI to scrutinize user profiles for contextual hints that might suggest age, such as mentions of birthdays or educational levels. This evaluation encompasses various content types, including posts, comments, and bios, and is being incorporated into features like Instagram Reels and Facebook Groups.
Meta is pushing for a transfer of legal accountability for age verification from individual developers to app stores. The company contends that app stores should assume the responsibility of validating users’ ages, allowing developers to design age-appropriate environments, such as Teen Accounts. According to Meta, a substantial majority of US parents are in favor of this suggested method of age verification.