Instagram will require users to declare their birthday, thus promoting the safety of teenagers. Young people will not be able to see "sensitive" content.
The Instagram will require users to declare their birthday, an update that the company says is intended to protect young people using its application.
The photo app is already asking new users to register date of birth on enrollment them, a requirement effective from the end of 2019. However, people who have previously registered may not have shared the relevant information.
In the coming weeks, Instagram will start urging users who have not declared a date of birth to do so. While they may initially reject the prompts, the app will eventually require everyone a birthday.
Currently, there are two scenarios where users will be asked for their birthday. First, the app will “sometimes” show a notification. A separate prompt may also appear if users try to view a post that is hidden behind one screen warning.
These warnings appear in “sensitive content” that may not violate Instagram’s official rules, but could be considered borderline, such as “suggestive” pictures or photos of medical procedures. Users will no longer be able to see these posts until they give a birthday, and younger ages may not even be able to see these posts.
The company also states that will use artificial intelligence to identify when a user may have given a fake birthday and that some users may be asked to "verify" their age. "In the future, if someone tells us they are over a certain age and technology tells us otherwise, we will show them a menu of options to verify their age," the company said. "This work is still in its infancy."
These changes are the latest as Instagram seeks to enhance security and privacy for its younger users. The company has also said it will convert to the private accounts of young teens by default and will have limited ability for advertisers to target these accounts.
It recently introduced features to prevent adult strangers from texting teens. Instagram also said it was in the early stages of thinking about releasing its service to users under the age of 13, which has caused concern among lawmakers.
