Meta has introduced a novel AI tool that analyzes visual elements such as users' height and bone structure to estimate age and help remove underage accounts from its platforms. This system supplements existing measures by scanning photos, videos, and contextual textual clues to enforce age restrictions more effectively.
- AI analyzes height and bone structure to estimate user age
- System integrates visual clues with contextual profile data
- Stricter teen account protections extended to new regions
What happened
Meta announced the launch of an AI system that scans photos and videos to detect whether users might be under 13 years old by analyzing visual cues like height and bone structure. Unlike facial recognition, this approach evaluates general physical characteristics to estimate age. The technology currently operates in select markets with plans for wider rollout across Meta’s platforms.
The company combines this visual data with contextual signals from profile content, including birthday mentions, school grades, posts, comments, and bios to improve the identification of underage users. Accounts flagged as potentially underage are deactivated until the user verifies their age to avoid permanent removal.
Why it matters
This initiative reflects Meta’s intensified efforts to comply with child safety standards and regulations. It follows a significant $375 million penalty imposed by New Mexico courts related to alleged failures in protecting young users on Meta platforms. The move aims to reduce minors’ online exposure and prevent access to age-restricted content more effectively.
Beyond legal pressure, enhancing safety controls responds to growing public and regulatory concerns about children’s wellbeing on social media. By deploying AI that does not rely on facial recognition, Meta also attempts to balance privacy considerations while increasing enforcement efficiency.
What to watch next
Meta plans to broaden the deployment of this AI system beyond initial countries and extend functionality to Instagram Live and Facebook Groups. It is also expanding stricter 'Teen Accounts' protections, which limit direct messaging and impose default privacy settings, to more regions including 27 countries in the EU and Brazil, and soon the U.S. and U.K.
The effectiveness and accuracy of this AI age detection system will be closely monitored by regulators, privacy advocates, and users amid ongoing lawsuits concerning child protection on social platforms. Future developments will likely influence industry standards for automated age verification and user safety controls.