Instagram, one of the most popular platforms among teens, is stepping up its efforts to protect younger users by using AI to catch those who lie about their age. It’s a bold move to safeguard teen mental health and curb harmful content — but will it work?

For years, Meta (Instagram’s parent company) has been under fire for its handling of teen users’ data and content. A 2021 whistleblower revealed that Instagram could negatively impact the mental health of teenage girls, and lawsuits have piled up, accusing the platform of exacerbating the teen mental health crisis. From addiction to harmful content and online bullying, the risks are real.

In an effort to fight back, Instagram is rolling out new AI-powered technology designed to identify teens who are fudging their age. Using a proprietary “adult classifier,” Instagram plans to analyze a user’s interactions, follower list, and even birthday posts to predict their real age. If the system suspects a user is under 18, it will automatically place them into a teen account — which comes with stricter privacy settings, such as limiting who can message them and what type of content they can view.

It’s a proactive approach, and one Meta hopes will make a difference. In fact, Instagram has already started using self-reported birthdays to move teens into these restricted accounts. The idea is that teens will no longer be able to bypass age restrictions so easily. In a world where lying about your age online is as easy as pressing a few buttons, this could mark a significant shift in how social media platforms handle age verification.

The challenge is clear: teens are known for their resourcefulness when it comes to sneaking past age barriers. A study by the UK’s telecommunications regulator found that a third of minors self-report their age as 18 or older on social media. It’s a loophole that Instagram is now targeting with their new AI tool. For example, the system flags repeated attempts to create an account with the same email address but different birthdays, making it more difficult to lie about your age.

And for those who still try to bypass the system? Meta has a backup plan. Teens who try to alter their age on their profile will be asked to upload formal identification or submit a selfie for age verification. Gone are the days when a friend’s “vouching” could suffice.

However, even with all these new measures, the issue of verifying age on social platforms isn’t just a Meta problem — it’s a broader challenge. Both Apple and Google, which power the app stores, have resisted suggestions to enforce age checks before downloading apps. Experts warn that shifting the burden to app stores may only delay the problem without offering a true solution.

A Pew Research Center study shows that TikTok is the most popular platform among teens, with 67% of users aged 13 to 17 on the app. Instagram still holds its ground, but the stakes are higher than ever as parents, lawmakers, and tech companies work to ensure that teens can enjoy these platforms without falling victim to the dangers of online spaces.

Meta’s move to use AI for age verification is just the beginning, but it’s clear that we’re moving into an era where the age-old question — “How old are you?” — is no longer just a simple inquiry but a complex issue with real-world implications. While it may not be a perfect solution, it’s a step forward in the ongoing effort to make social media safer for the youngest users.