Meta Uses AI to Keep Children Under 13 Off Its Platforms

Pressure from the EU Commission

The European Commission has repeatedly accused Meta of not doing enough to protect children from the dangers of its services. It insists that the age limit of 13 be consistently enforced on Instagram and Facebook.

"The EU Commission is pushing for all social media platforms to use an age verification app developed by the Commission to verify age claims," reports state. Meta, however, prefers a centralized age verification system at the smartphone operating system or app store level rather than individual app verifications.

Several EU countries, including France, Spain, and Austria, are also discussing a ban on social media for minors below a certain age. The Brussels authority rejects blanket bans, instead advocating for strict technical checks.

Deletion and Appeal Options

If the AI identifies potential minors, their accounts will be deleted after review. However, affected users can appeal and prove their age with identity documents.

The system specifically looks for clues like birthday cakes or balloons in images that might indicate a young age. If an account is flagged as potentially underage, it will be deleted after confirmation.

Meta is also using AI to identify 13- to 17-year-olds who registered as adults. These users will automatically be transferred to safer profiles with restricted features in the future.

The discussion around youth protection online thus remains a key issue for regulators and tech companies alike.