Meta Steps Up Teen Safety with New Age Checks

Instagram is stepping up its teen protection measures, with enhanced AI-driven age detection and the expansion of its teen account protections to users in Canada.  According to a report from Android Central, Instagram’s upgraded detection system will now automatically restrict certain interactions if it determines that an account holder is under 18—even in cases where the user has attempted to bypass safeguards by entering an adult birth date. This marks the latest evolution in Meta’s age-detection technology, which draws on a range of signals to identify user age. These include who follows and engages with the account, the type of content a user interacts with, and even contextual clues such as birthday messages from friends. Meta concedes the system is not flawless, and mistakes will occur. Users flagged incorrectly will have the option to appeal or update their age details. Still, the company insists its detection methods are improving and becoming more adept at identifying underage usage patterns. As part of this push, Meta will now default Canadian teens under 16 into its advanced security mode—mirroring protections already in place for U.S. teens since last September. This setting can only be switched off by a parent. The move comes amid growing global scrutiny of teen safety on social platforms. Over the past year, several European nations, including France, Greece, and Denmark, have voiced support for laws that would bar younger teens from accessing social media entirely. Spain is weighing a minimum age of 16, while Australia and New Zealand are preparing their own restrictions, and Norway is in the process of drafting new rules. The trajectory seems clear: restrictions on teen social media access are likely to become more widespread. The real challenge, however, lies in enforcement—and in establishing legal accountability for platforms to uphold these rules. At present, each platform relies on its own detection mechanisms, and while Instagram’s AI system appears to be among the more advanced, there is no universal industry benchmark for accuracy or compliance. Regulators are still exploring alternatives, such as third-party selfie verification, though such approaches raise their own privacy concerns. In Australia, for example, regulators recently tested 60 different age-verification systems from multiple providers. The results showed that while several were relatively effective, none were error-free—especially when users were within two years of the 16-year-old threshold. So far, Australia’s proposed legislation simply requires platforms to take “all reasonable steps” to remove under-16 accounts, without setting a binding accuracy standard. Without a universally recognized system, enforcement remains murky and could undermine the effectiveness of such laws. This is why Meta’s work in refining AI-based verification may prove pivotal. If its methods continue to improve and demonstrate reliable results, they could form the basis of an industry-wide standard for teen protection online. For now, Instagram’s expansion of these measures to Canada represents another incremental but important step toward a safer digital environment for young users. 📢 If you're interested in Facebook Ads Account, don't hesitate to connect with us!🔹 https://linktr.ee/Adshinepro💬 We're always ready to assist you!

X is experimenting with a fresh revenue stream, giving users the option to pay for expanded reach on their posts directly within the platform. As illustrated in screenshots now circulating, X has begun rolling out a new “Boost” button that appears on user posts. Tapping the button provides a menu of amplification options, with pricing structured around impression thresholds. The current packages are: - 11k – 27k impressions: $50- 23k – 54k impressions: $100- 116k – 272k impressions: $500- 225k – 543k impressions: $1,000 Those figures are far from modest, and given that these boosts don’t fall under the platform’s formal advertising system, it’s difficult to see a broad base of everyday X users embracing the feature. The offering seems particularly curious when considering that X Premium subscribers already enjoy some reach advantages, notably in their replies. And in fact, this “Boost” option is currently only available to Premium users on iOS—suggesting they are the intended customer base. Still, that effectively asks users to spend even more on top of their monthly Premium subscription, which feels like a steep proposition. Undoubtedly, a handful of accounts will test it out. Some of them, inevitably, will be spammers and opportunists who see the cost as worthwhile if it buys them greater exposure. For such operators, the math may well make sense. But in the broader scheme, the impact of this feature is unlikely to be significant. X’s own data shows that 80% of its user base never posts or engages actively on the platform. That leaves only a small pool of potential customers for this add-on. Nevertheless, X appears willing to trial any measure that could bring in new income. The company is in need of fresh revenue, and even incremental intake could help. 📢 If you're interested in Facebook Ads Account, don't hesitate to connect with us!🔹 https://linktr.ee/Adshinepro💬 We're always ready to assist you!

TikTok is aiming to spark greater creativity among its users, with a new feature in creator analytics designed to highlight trending concepts that align with a creator’s existing content. As shown in screenshots shared by app researcher Yasser Masood, TikTok has introduced fresh content insights within its analytics, accompanied by a persistent “Create” button. The idea is to make it easier for creators to tap into relevant, emerging trends. Through this update, creators can now access data on search trends for related topics, keywords being used in searches, suggested videos, and demographic insights—all of which can serve as valuable input for shaping new content ideas. It’s another example of how AI is increasingly being used to surface evolving content themes, helping creators stay ahead of shifting audience interests. YouTube already offers a similar function through its “Inspiration” tab, which highlights topics likely to resonate with viewers. Meta’s AI tools and X’s Grok assistant also provide comparable recommendations, meaning creators today have more ways than ever to track what’s trending—without having to monitor everything themselves. That said, this does come with a caveat. If every creator is drawing on AI-generated cues, much of the output risks looking and feeling the same. Still, the intention is not to prescribe cookie-cutter content but rather to give users prompts they can build upon with their own perspective—something no algorithm can duplicate. In the end, these tools are meant as guides. The responsibility to stand out lies in how each creator interprets the data and infuses originality into their work. Even so, having reliable, data-driven trend signals—especially those paired with audience insights—could prove to be a valuable asset for TikTok creators. It’s a subtle update, but one that may ultimately help creators produce more relevant and engaging content. 📢 If you're interested in Facebook Ads Account, don't hesitate to connect with us!🔹 https://linktr.ee/Adshinepro💬 We're always ready to assist you!