Meta Expands AI-Powered Age Estimation Globally to Protect Underage Users

Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, is expanding its AI-powered age estimation technology globally to identify underage users who may have registered using false dates of birth. This technology uses AI to examine contextual clues in accounts, including references to school grades and birthday celebrations, as well as visual cues in photographs and videos. The company says this approach does not involve facial recognition.

The AI-powered age estimation technology is designed to detect users under 17, even when their profiles indicate they are adults, and automatically move them into accounts with additional safety restrictions. Meta's Teen Accounts apply stricter privacy, messaging, and content controls, including automatic private settings, restricted exposure to harmful content, and tools to manage time spent on the platforms. These accounts are designed for users aged 13 to 17 across Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger.

In Kenya, Parliament is considering legislation that would require social media companies to obtain parental consent before allowing children to access their platforms and deploy age-verification systems. The proposed Online Safety Bill 2026 seeks to make parental consent a condition for children accessing regulated online services, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X, and TikTok. The bill also sets out ways platforms could verify parental responsibility and assigns parents and guardians responsibility for supervising children's online activities.

Meta's expansion of AI-powered age estimation comes amid growing pressure on social media companies to demonstrate that they can identify minors and protect them from harmful online experiences. The company has faced legal and regulatory scrutiny in the United States over allegations that its platforms contribute to addictive behavior among children, expose them to harmful content, and collect their personal information without adequate safeguards.

The use of AI to estimate someone's age has raised questions about privacy, accuracy, and the potential exclusion of legitimate adult users. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about how such information is processed, retained, and independently audited. There is also the risk of false positives, where adults are incorrectly identified as teenagers and placed under restrictions, or false negatives, where underage users evade detection.

For parents, the changes could provide another layer of protection and greater visibility into how children use social media. For businesses, the requirements could affect digital advertising and marketing businesses that rely on reaching younger audiences. Stronger age controls may limit the data available for profiling minors and restrict how platforms target them with advertising and other commercial content.

Meta plans to extend the AI-powered age estimation system to Facebook and introduce similar technology on Threads before the end of the year. The company says it has been placing more teens in age-appropriate protections and is encouraged by the results. The global expansion reflects growing pressure on social media companies to protect minors and demonstrate their ability to identify and safeguard them online.

Key points

• Meta introduces AI-powered age estimation to identify underage users on its platforms.
• Kenya considers legislation to regulate social media use among children.
• The use of AI to estimate age raises concerns about privacy and accuracy.