Meta boosts child safety on Instagram, Facebook with AI features

Meta is rolling out new artificial intelligence features across Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger to bolster protections for young users. The tech giant announced globally that these updates will identify users under 13 and alert parents to searches involving sensitive themes.

The AI tools will categorize content for users over 13, drawing inspiration from film classification systems. This aims to ensure teenagers encounter material appropriate for their age. The new settings will also restrict interactions with profiles, pages, or groups posting unsuitable content.

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The objective is, fundamentally, for teenagers to see content on social media similar to what they would see in a movie appropriate for their age.

Beyond content filtering, Meta's AI will analyze visual cues in photos and videos on profiles to estimate a user's age. This visual analysis, which the company stresses is not facial recognition, looks for general indicators like height or bone structure. Combined with other methods, Meta expects this to significantly improve its ability to identify and remove underage accounts.

Furthermore, the platforms will now notify parents if a child repeatedly searches for terms related to self-harm or suicide within a short period. This feature is already active in the European Union, Brazil, and India. Meta also offers a centralized management hub for parents called "Family Center" to oversee their children's activity across Instagram, Meta Horizon, Facebook, and Messenger.

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analyzes general themes and visual cues, such as height or bone structure, to estimate a person's approximate age