Meta Deploying AI Body Scans to Verify User Age Limits

Meta is stepping up its efforts to keep children off its adult platforms by deploying artificial intelligence designed to estimate a user’s age based on physical characteristics. The visual analysis system examines body indicators such as height and bone structure to identify whether a user is under the required age limit for apps like Instagram and Facebook.

The move marks a significant shift in how social media giants enforce age restrictions, moving away from simple birthdate entries toward biometric verification. While the technology is currently operational in only a handful of select countries, the company has indicated it is actively working toward a much broader global rollout in the near future.

This initiative matters as regulators increase pressure on tech companies to protect minors from harmful content and data collection. By automating age detection through physical scanning, Meta aims to bypass the "age-faking" common among young teenagers, though the system is likely to reignite debates over biometric privacy and the surveillance of young users.

Observers are watching how accurately the AI can distinguish between teenagers and young adults, as well as how Meta plans to handle the sensitive biometric data gathered during the scanning process. TechCrunch reports that while the rollout is limited for now, it represents a major pillar of Meta’s long-term safety strategy.