Instagram Requests a Teen’s Video Selfie

Instagram said this week that it is evaluating several new age verification mechanisms. This includes taking a video selfie and using facial recognition software with AI to analyze it.

Teenagers who use Instagram are expected to confirm their age and follow platform guidelines.

Instagram’s parent company, Meta, (formerly known as Facebook), mandates that users be at least 13 years old, however many users get past this rule by changing their date of birth in the account settings.

Even worse, many people alter it to make it seem 18, granting access to even more stuff.

Three distinct verification procedures will be shown to American teenagers who attempt to modify their age on Instagram. Three adults IG users must attest to the change, an uploaded image of their ID, or a video selfie.

Instagram’s age verification feature was previously limited to taking a snapshot of an ID. It is now providing two other, quite peculiar approaches, though. “Social Vouching” is the first.

The business will contact the three adult accounts you provide so they can confirm the change.

The third choice is the one that may cause some scepticism. The Yoti AI verification technology on Instagram allows users to choose to take a video selfie of their face from various angles.

People between the ages of 13 and 19 are apparently simple to verify using the software.

According to Meta, only your age can be determined via technology. The business expressed hope that the new procedures will guarantee that teenagers have an “age-appropriate experience” on Instagram.

It would be fascinating to observe how the general public reacts to this new approach given that the corporation has received criticism about teen and child safety. The U.S. currently offers all three verification methods, and other regions will probably follow soon.