Meta says Instagram’s AI age checks are going global—and looking past the birthday box

Meta says it is expanding Instagram’s AI age estimation globally to automatically move “millions more teens” into Teen Account protections, even if they registered with adult birthdays. The Verge reports that the expansion follows the technology’s launch in the US, EU and Brazil in 2025. Source

According to The Verge, the system estimates whether users are under 18 by examining the profiles and content they interact with, birthday messages they receive, and visual cues in uploaded photos and videos—including height and bone structure. Even birthday messages have a side job in this system. Source

Users believed to be under 13 are removed from Instagram, while suspected 13–17-year-olds are automatically placed into Teen Accounts. Those accounts are private by default, restrict the kinds of content teens can see and prevent strangers from sending them direct messages. Source