As part of its major security update, social media platform Instagram is rolling out a feature that will help verify the age of its users in the EU and UK.
This technology has been pioneered in the UK. Users who will try to change their date of birth from under 18 to over 18 on the application will need to upload their national identity card or show a selfie video which will be analyzed by AI.
Instagram explained that the new system will ensure users are getting age-appropriate content on the platform.
Users must be at least 13 years old to create an account for the photo and video sharing app.
“Accounts that represent someone under the age of 13 must clearly state in the account bio that the account is managed by a parent or manager,” Instagram said on its website.
“If your child is under 13 and has an account that is not managed by you or a manager, you can show them how to delete their account,” the blog added.
Online safety campaigners have been requesting this feature for a long time. Many are against the idea of ​​children being on these platforms for fear of being exposed to potentially harmful content. After years of campaigning, age verification is finally possible.
Instagram has teamed up with UK firm UT which specializes in age estimation technology.
UT’s system analyzes selfie-videos and studies facial features. After reaching a conclusion, it shares the life expectancy with Instagram. The platform noted that UT’s system was not a facial recognition system but only estimated the user’s age.
Instagram also clarified that account details or other private details are not shared with the tech firm during this process. According to the giant that owns Meta, photos are also deleted immediately upon detection by both Instagram and YouTube.
Earlier this year, Instagram tested the system in various countries.
“We want everyone to experience Instagram in a way that’s appropriate for their age, which means we need to know how old they are – and that’s a challenge in our industry,” Tara Hopkins, Instagram’s director of public policy, was quoted as saying. Mail online.
