Meta Deploys AI to Detect Under-13 Accounts on Facebook, Instagram

Meta announced on Tuesday that it has begun deploying artificial intelligence on Facebook and Instagram to detect and remove accounts belonging to users under 13, who are prohibited from using the platforms under company policy.

The system combines visual analysis of photos and videos with existing text-based detection. It scans for physical indicators such as height and bone structure to estimate a general age range, alongside contextual clues like mentions of birthdays, school grades, or other profile details in posts, comments, bios, and captions. "We want to be clear this is not facial recognition," Meta stated in a blog post. "Our AI looks at general themes and visual cues, for example height or bone structure, to estimate someone's general age. It does not identify the specific person in the image." The company plans to expand text analysis to additional features including Instagram Reels, Instagram Live, and Facebook Groups.

The technology is currently active in select countries, including the United States, with a broader global rollout underway. When an account is flagged as potentially underage, Meta deactivates it. Users must then verify their age through methods such...