Meta said on November 9, US time, that it will bring AI technology that estimates whether Instagram users are in their teens to Japan, applying protective settings to anyone flagged even if they registered as an adult.
Instagram's teen accounts limit who can contact a user and what content is shown, and include tools to manage time spent on the app. Some users register an age higher than their real one, leaving those protections switched off.
Meta introduced AI age estimation in the US, Australia, Canada and the UK in April 2025. It expanded to EU countries and Brazil in May. The rollout now extends to Japan and other countries and regions worldwide.
Checking age through Apple
Meta is also extending the technology to Facebook, which it operates, and plans a global rollout on Threads within the year.
In Australia, Meta has begun using age information held by Apple to verify users. A parent confirms a child's age while setting up the child's smartphone, and that information is passed to app operators.
Rather than checking age app by app, Meta proposes that app stores verify age and obtain parental consent in one place.
Meta says protecting teen users requires effort across the social media industry, not just its own platforms. It is calling on TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar measures, including AI age estimation.
Governments worldwide are moving to restrict social media use by teenagers. In Japan, debate over regulating minors' social media is set to go ahead in government, with where responsibility lies as the main point of contention.