AI analyses bone structure on Facebook and Instagram to identify kids' photos

Facebook and Instagram are implementing a new method of using AI to evaluate bone structure and identify users who are under 13 to remove them. 

In a blog post on Tuesday, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, outlined that its AI will examine photos and videos uploaded on its platforms for "overall patterns and visual indicators," such as height and bone formation.

"We want to clarify: this doesn't involve facial recognition," Meta mentions in their blog, stating that it “does not identify the individual shown in the picture.” 

This initiative is part of Meta's strategy to exclude users younger than 13 from its sites. It will also scrutinise posts, comments, bios, and captions to look for "contextual evidence" that suggests someone might be too young.

Meta’s AI-enabled facial analysis, initially available in a few countries, including the US before expanding further, appears akin to the face-scanning technology from age verification services like Yoti and k-ID. 

Facebook and Instagram will disable accounts deemed underage, and the account holder will be required to confirm their age to avoid deletion.

This announcement occurs shortly after a jury in New Mexico determined that Meta breached state law by providing deceptive messages about platform safety and by failing to safeguard children against online predators. 

Meta has been fined $375 million as a consequence and may need to implement changes, which led the company to threaten leaving the state.

Additionally, Meta is broadening the use of its technology on Instagram to automatically assign users between 13 and 18 to Teen Accounts. 

These accounts entail enhanced content restrictions, block unsolicited messages, and stop users under 16 from live streaming. 

Instagram introduced this technology in 2024, with Facebook now planning to adopt the same system for US users, and an extension to the UK and EU planned for June.

In its statement, Meta continues to endorse verifying age at the app store and operating system levels, a measure that is gaining support among lawmakers in Congress and some states, including California and Colorado.