The company said the move is part of its effort to “proactively” identify teens who misrepresent their age on the image-sharing platform.
According to Meta, the notifications will include guidance for parents on “the importance of their teens providing the correct ages online, and tips to check and confirm their teens’ ages together.”
“The digital world continues to evolve and we have to evolve with it,” Meta said in a blog post. “That’s why it’s important that we work together with parents to make sure as many teens as possible have the protective settings that come with Teen Accounts.”
Meta also said it is expanding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to help identify accounts that may belong to users who falsely listed their birthdate.
If an account lists an adult birthdate but Meta’s AI detects signs that the user is likely a teen—such as the content they interact with, profile details, or the date the account was created—the system may automatically switch the account to a Teen Account with stricter protections.
These restrictions include making teen accounts private by default, limiting private messages to followers or existing connections, and restricting "sensitive content" such as videos of fighting or cosmetic procedures.
Instagram began rolling out their “Teen Accounts” last year. Users under the age of 16 need parental permission to adjust those settings. Meta said more than 54 million teens globally have been assigned teen accounts, with 97 percent of those aged 13 to 15 opting to keep the protections in place. The company recently extended the feature to Facebook and Messenger.
Meta acknowledged that age detection online remains a challenge for the entire tech industry. “In case we make a mistake, we’re giving people the option to change their settings,” it said.
These enhanced safety measures come amid growing scrutiny of social media platforms and the impact of available content on teen mental health. Meta and other tech companies face increasing pressure from lawmakers, advocacy groups, and parents to do more to protect impressionable young users.