November 11, 2026, 9:23 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Meta will further restrict the use of Instagram by minors. A new AI age verification system will be implemented even if teenagers provide a birth date indicating they are adults when signing up for Instagram.
Teen accounts already exist for Meta on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. They regulate who can contact teenagers, what content is shown to them, and how much screen time they spend on the apps. The company is now tightening age verification to make abuse more difficult.
System launches for Instagram worldwide now
In Australia, Meta already uses Apple’s “Signal” for age recognition. When parents set up a smartphone for their child, the App Store can pass the child’s age to developers when downloading an app. This prevents Meta from allowing a false age to be entered in the app, enabling minors to bypass the teen account features.
Meta considers this approach more effective than individual checks within different apps. The company advocates for a central age verification through app stores in conjunction with parental consent. AI could assist in this effort.
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How AI restricts minors
Previously, if a false birth date was entered when setting up the social media app, one could slip through the restrictions as an “adult.” Therefore, Meta is now using AI for age verification to assess whether an Instagram account actually belongs to a minor.
Users under 13 years old are blocked, and restricted accounts apply to teenagers between 13 and 17 years old. These include age-appropriate feeds, limitations on potential contacts, and preset time management features.
Also of interest: How to protect children online
Parents to receive more information
In the U.S., Meta plans to inform parents about the new age verification through Instagram Reels later this month. The video in the feed explains the approach of the new verification and points to additional information for families.