Meta Platforms has just announced a plan to use artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze images and videos to determine whether users are under 13 years old or not.
This technology will be applied on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, with the goal of strengthening the protection of children in the online environment.
According to Meta, the AI system will scan visual signs such as height, bone structure or body characteristics to estimate the user's age.
The company emphasized that this is not facial recognition technology, but only analyzes common characteristics to make an assessment of age, without determining personal identity.
In addition to image data, AI also combines text content analysis and interactive behavior.
Signals such as posts about birthdays, mentioning academic scores, or content in biographies, comments... are all synthesized by the system to increase accuracy when detecting unencumbered accounts.
Currently, this technology has been tested in some countries and Meta is aiming to expand globally.
In the future, the system is expected to be deeply integrated into many features such as Instagram Live or Facebook Groups.
When AI identifies an account that may belong to a user under 13 years old, Meta will temporarily disable that account.
Users will have to follow the age verification process if they want to recover, to ensure compliance with the minimum age regulations on the platform.
This move takes place in the context of Meta facing many legal pressures related to child safety.
Recently, a jury in New Mexico state asked the company to pay $375 million in civil fines for allegedly endangering children and providing false information about the platform's safety level.
The ruling also forced Meta to make major changes in operating policies.
Along with tightening age controls, Meta also expanded the "Youth Accounts" system on Instagram to 27 European Union countries and Brazil.
These accounts are designed with higher levels of protection, such as limiting messages from strangers, hiding negative comments, and defaulting to private mode.
In addition, Meta said it will deploy this technology on Facebook in the US, then expand to the UK and EU in the near future.
This is considered an important step to strengthen efforts to control content and protect young users on social networking platforms.
