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Meta said Tuesday that artificial intelligence will be used to ensure users under the age of 13 won’t be using the company’s social media platforms.
Meta released an update on its age assurance technology, stating its commitment to ensuring teenagers are engaged in online experiences appropriate for their age. This is part of Meta's ongoing efforts to enhance online safety for its younger user base.
Meta's strategy involves intensifying underage enforcement through advanced AI visual analysis and other technological improvements. It also includes extending protective measures for teens suspected of age misrepresentation on Instagram in European Union countries and Brazil, as well as on Facebook in the United States. Additionally, the company aims to educate parents on the importance of accurate age disclosure online. This comprehensive initiative comes in response to mounting criticism from legislative bodies and various states concerning the safety of minors on social media platforms.
The announcement by Meta coincides with significant backlash from governmental entities regarding online safety. Specifically, New Mexico's Democratic Attorney General Raúl Torrez recently criticized Meta for allegedly threatening to cease its social media operations within the state. This controversy follows a March jury decision that imposed $375 million in civil penalties on Meta. The penalties were levied based on claims that the social media giant failed to adequately shield minors from sexual predators on its platforms. Meta, however, argued that the state's demands for relief were 'burdensome, broad and in many cases technologically impractical or completely impossible'.