Meta-owned social media platform Instagram is rolling out its age verification system for UK users that want to change their age from under to over 18 for the first time.
The tool, powered by age-verification tech from Yoti, was first unveiled in June as a way to more easily check users are the age they claim. The technology has been launched in the United Kingdom. Users who will try to change their date of birth on the application from under 18 to over 18 will be required to upload their national ID or show a selfie video which will be analyzed by AI.
Instagram explained that the new system will ensure that users were receiving age-appropriate content on the platform. The photo-and-video-sharing app requires users to be at least 13 years of age to create an account. Instagram officials stated on its website “Accounts that represent someone under the age of 13 must clearly state in the account’s bio that the account is managed by a parent or manager,”
“If your child is younger than 13 and has an account that isn’t managed by you or a manager, you can show them how to delete their account,” the Instagram officials added.
Online safety campaigners have been already requesting this feature for a long time. Many have been against the idea of children being on these platforms due to the fear of exposing them to potentially harmful content. Age verification has finally become a possibility after years of campaigning.
Instagram joined hand with UK firm Yoti which hold expertise in age estimation technology. Yoti’s system analyses selfie-video and studies facial features. After it reaches a conclusion, it shares the estimated age with Instagram. The platform noted that Yoti’s system was not a facial recognition one but only guessed the age of the user.
Earlier this year, Instagram tested the system in different countries.
Instagram’s public policy director said “We want everyone to experience Instagram in a way that’s appropriate for their age, which means we need to know how old they are – and this is a challenge across our industry,”
