Meta announced Tuesday that it will begin using artificial intelligence to analyze photos and videos for visual indicators that could suggest a user is under 13, potentially leading to their removal from Facebook and Instagram.

The system may assess cues such as height and bone structure, the company said.

“We want to be clear: this is not facial recognition,” Meta explained in its blog post. “Our AI looks at general themes and visual cues, for example height or bone structure, to estimate someone’s general age; it does not identify the specific person in the image. By combining these visual insights with our analysis of text and interactions, we can significantly increase the number of underage accounts we identify and remove.”

The visual analysis system is currently active in select countries, with Meta saying it plans to expand it more widely.
The company says the technology is part of its broader effort to prevent users under 13 from accessing its platforms.

Alongside visual analysis, Meta also uses AI to review entire profiles for contextual signals, such as birthday messages or references to school grades.

These signals are gathered from various parts of the platform, including posts, comments, bios, and captions. Meta says it intends to extend the system further across its services, including Instagram Live and Facebook Groups.

If Meta’s systems flag a user as potentially underage, the company will deactivate the account, and the user will have to verify their age through its age verification process to avoid permanent deletion.

The move comes just weeks after a New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties over claims that it misled users about the safety of its platforms and exposed children to harm.

The company was also instructed to make significant changes to how its platforms operate.