Meta to use AI to scan users' physical appearance to identify underage accounts

Meta has announced it will begin using artificial intelligence to analyse visual cues in photos and videos—including a person's height and bone structure—in order to identify users who may be under 13 and should not have accounts on Facebook or Instagram.

The company stated clearly that the system does not constitute facial recognition. "Our AI looks at general themes and visual cues, for example height or bone structure, to estimate someone's general age; it does not identify the specific person in the image," Meta said in a blog post. The visual analysis system is now operating in select countries, with a broader rollout planned.

The system works by combining visual analysis with examination of text and user interactions, scanning content across different formats including posts, comments, bios, and captions for contextual signals such as birthday celebrations or mentions of school grades. Meta says it plans to expand the technology to more parts of its apps, including Instagram Live and Facebook Groups.

If the system determines that a user may be underage, their account will be deactivated and they will be required to verify their age through Meta's age verification process to prevent permanent deletion.

Separately, Meta announced it is expanding its technology that automatically places teenagers into stricter Teen Accounts on Instagram to 27 countries in the European Union and Brazil. These accounts include additional safeguards such as receiving direct messages only from people the user follows or is already connected to, hiding harmful comments, and setting profiles to private by default. The company also said it is expanding Teen Accounts to Facebook in the United States for the first time, followed by the UK and EU in June.

The announcements come weeks after a New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties for misleading consumers about the safety of its platforms and putting children at risk, and directed the company to implement fundamental changes. Meta is currently facing numerous lawsuits from US states over child safety on its platforms.