2 weeks Ago By Theunis Jansen van Rensburg
Meta is intensifying its efforts to ensure younger users are utilising the dedicated teen accounts it has introduced for Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. Starting in the United States, the company is testing artificial intelligence technology designed to identify individuals who may be teens, even if they have misrepresented their age to appear as adults. If the AI detects a likely teen user, they will be moved to a teen account.
Read: What we expect from the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 The company states that it has implemented measures to ensure the accuracy of this age-detection technology. However, recognizing the potential for errors, users flagged by the AI as likely teens will have the option to adjust their settings and remain on an adult account if they believe the AI’s assessment is incorrect. While Meta has employed AI for age detection purposes previously, the company emphasizes that using the technology in this proactive way to transition users to teen accounts represents a “big change.
” Meta initially launched teen accounts on Instagram in the latter part of last year and has recently expanded their availability to Facebook and Messenger. These teen accounts are characterized by stricter default privacy settings and enhanced parental controls. For example, teen accounts are automatically set to private, and they prevent teen users from receiving messages from individuals they do not know.
The company reports that it has successfully enrolled over 54 million teens into these specialized accounts. Furthermore, it states that 97 percent of users aged between 13 and 15 have chosen to keep these settings enabled (users under 16 require permission from their parents or guardians to opt out of teen accounts). Meta also highlights that over 90 percent of parents surveyed have indicated that teen accounts have contributed to keeping their children safer on Instagram.
Meta will also begin sending notifications to parents on Instagram, providing them with resources and guidance on discussing the importance of accurate age profiles with their teens. The goal is to encourage teens to correctly state their age, facilitating their enrolment in teen accounts. Meta adds that it is actively exploring other avenues to ensure age-appropriate experiences for its users, including supporting federal legislation that would require app stores to seek parental permission before allowing users under the age of 16 to download apps.
.
