Meta Expands AI Age Detection for Teen Safety Online

Meta has announced the global expansion of its artificial intelligence (AI) age-estimation technology on November 9, 2026, to identify teenagers who misrepresent their ages online. This technology will automatically place these users under Teen Account protections on Instagram, which restricts who can contact them, the content they can access, and the time spent on the platform.

The expansion includes the introduction of Apple’s age-range signal in Australia as an additional method for age determination. Meta aims to ensure that more teenagers receive age-appropriate protections, regardless of the birth dates they provide during account registration.

The company has reported positive results since the initial introduction of this technology, stating it has successfully placed more teens under appropriate protections. The rollout is focused on Instagram, with plans to extend it to Facebook and Threads later in 2026.

This initiative follows an agreement with 52 bipartisan attorneys general in the US to enhance the identification of teenagers and children under 13 on its platforms.