Instagram said on Thursday it is testing new options for users to verify their age on the platform, starting with people in the United States.
The photo-sharing service, owned by Meta Platforms Inc, said it is testing two new ways to verify a person’s age, as well as allowing them to upload their proof of identity digitally.
“When we know if someone is a teen (ages 13-17), we provide them with age-appropriate experiences, such as putting them on a private account, preventing unwanted contact from adults they don’t know, and limiting the choices teens have. advertisers to reach them with ads,” Erica Finkle, director of data governance at Meta, said in a blog post.
Instagram said it has partnered with Yoti, a company specializing in online age verification, to ensure user privacy.
Users can upload a selfie video to verify their age, after which Yoti’s technology estimates their age based on facial features. Both Meta and Yoti will remove the image once the age has been verified, Instagram said.
Another option is for people to select three mutual followers to confirm the user’s age, and the person responding must be at least 18 years old.
The move comes after Instagram paused the launch of Instagram Kids last year, following criticism and opposition to the project.
Instagram Kids was promoted as an app that required parental permission to join and was supposed to offer ad-free and age-appropriate content, but US congressmen and advocacy groups urged the company to drop its plans, citing security issues.