Instagram's New Guardians: How AI is Keeping Teens Safe

Instagram is stepping up its game to protect young users. It is now using artificial intelligence to spot teens who might be fibbing about their age. This move is all about making sure teens are using the app safely. When Instagram thinks an account belongs to a teen, it switches it to a restricted Teen Account. This happens even if the account says the user is an adult. Teen Accounts are not new. They started last year. These accounts come with built-in protections. They limit who can message a teen and what kind of content they can see. For teens under 16, changing these settings requires a parent's okay. This is a big deal because it means teens are safer online. Instagram has been using AI to guess ages for a while. Now, it is using this tech to make sure teens are in the right accounts. The platform can find teens who lied about their age by looking at birthday posts or getting tips from other users. This is smart because it catches sneaky behavior. But what if Instagram makes a mistake? No problem. Users can change their settings if needed. The company is also sending tips to parents. These tips help parents talk to their teens about the importance of honesty online. It is all about teamwork between parents and the platform. Instagram is not the only one doing this. Facebook and Messenger also have Teen Accounts. So far, at least 54 million teens are using these protected accounts worldwide. Most teens ages 13-15 are sticking with these safer accounts. This shows that the system is working. The digital world is always changing. Instagram is changing with it. By using AI and working with parents, Instagram is making the app safer for teens. It is a good step forward in keeping young users protected online.