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Instagram is introducing technology to help age users in the UK and EU as part of a major security update.
Starting today, people trying to edit their birthday on Instagram from under 18 to over 18 will be asked to verify their age by submitting their ID, or record a personal video that will be analyzed by special digital technology.
Instagram said the new system will help users have an age-appropriate experience on the site.
Internet safety advocates have long called for age-blocking technology to be passed online to protect children from inappropriate and harmful content.
Instagram’s estimation system sees the company working with UK firm Yoti, which specializes in the technology.
The two companies said that after a user records their selfie and shares it with Yoti, which uses its technology to analyze facial expressions and then share an estimate with Instagram.
They note that Yoti’s technology is not facial recognition technology, so it cannot identify or recognize anyone – it only needs to determine the age of the screen being displayed.
No account information is shared with Yoti in this process and the image will be deleted immediately by Yoti and Instagram after an estimated year, the firms said.
Instagram began testing the system in other countries earlier this year.
Tara Hopkins, Instagram policy director, said: “We want everyone to be able to use Instagram in a way that’s appropriate for their age, and that means knowing their age. – and this is a challenge across our industry.
“That’s why today’s announcement is such an important step, and why we’re so excited to partner with Yoti, who is leading the way in creating effective technology to verify age and privacy. .
“This work complements our ongoing efforts to improve our age detection technology and develop new ways to give young people the safest and most meaningful experience possible on Instagram.”
Julie Dawson, chief policy and operations officer at Yoti, said: “Proving online age is a complex, industry-wide challenge.
“We’re excited to continue working with Meta to create experiences that are appropriate for the next generation, so that people can feel safe and secure online.
“Our face age estimation is a privacy protection solution. We created it to give everyone a secure way to prove their age without revealing their name or ID documents.
“Technology can allow young children to access information that is appropriate for their age, while protecting the privacy of users. Advertising today is another way to create in safer online environments.”
In response to the announcement, the NSPCC said it was pleased to see the work being done, but said the measures were not serious, and said the equipment should be available to everyone in the area.
Richard Collard, the NSPCC’s policy and legal director, said: “Ofcom’s research shows that a third of under-18s on social media have agreed to set up in adult accounts, it is important that Instagram takes the necessary steps to prevent these children from being exposed to danger or harm.
“But these actions do little to prevent new young users from creating adult accounts on Instagram or to protect children who are already using it.
“This half-way house is why the Government urgently needs to pass an Internet Safety Bill which makes it clear that all social media sites have a legal obligation to protect children from harmful content on their desktop.”
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