Meta announced it is deploying artificial intelligence to scan photos and videos on Facebook and Instagram for physical indicators of users under 13, including bone structure and height analysis.
Meta's new detection system analyzes visual content for "general themes and visual cues" to identify potential underage users on its platforms. The company emphasized in a Tuesday blog post that the technology does not use facial recognition and cannot identify specific individuals in images.
Instead, the AI examines physical characteristics such as bone structure and height to estimate whether a photo depicts a minor. The system scans photos and videos as users post them to either platform.
The move represents Meta's latest effort to enforce its minimum age requirement of 13 years old on Facebook and Instagram. The platforms have long faced scrutiny over how effectively they prevent younger users from accessing their services, with critics arguing that current enforcement mechanisms are insufficient.
Meta did not provide detailed information about the accuracy rate of the bone structure analysis or how the system handles edge cases involving adults of short stature or teens of larger build. The company also did not specify what enforcement actions follow if the AI flags a photo as potentially depicting a minor.
Child safety advocates have generally pushed social media platforms to strengthen age verification and enforcement, though concerns exist about privacy implications of such systems. Meta's approach of analyzing physical characteristics rather than facial features appears designed to address some privacy concerns while still enabling age-related content moderation.
The announcement comes as Meta faces ongoing pressure from regulators and advocacy groups regarding child protection on its platforms. Last year, the company faced criticism following leaked internal documents showing awareness of negative effects its services have on teen mental health and body image.
Meta has not announced when the bone structure analysis system will be fully deployed across its platforms or provided information about how users will be notified that their content is being scanned by this technology.
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