Meta has introduced new AI-powered measures aimed at improving online safety for teenagers across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, as global scrutiny over child protection on social media intensifies.
The announcement comes amid growing global pressure on technology companies to improve child safety online. Regulators in the United States and Europe have increasingly called for stricter age verification measures and stronger protections against cyberbullying, harmful content, and online exploitation involving minors.
The tech giant said the new safeguards combine artificial intelligence, product design, and parental support tools to better identify underage users and ensure that teenagers are placed in age-appropriate digital environments.
According to Meta, its systems now analyse signals from posts, captions, comments, bios, and user behaviour to detect if an account may belong to someone under the age of 13, which is the minimum age requirement for using its platforms.
The firm is also deploying advanced visual analysis technology that estimates age ranges using broad physical cues in photos and videos. Meta stressed that the system “does not use facial recognition or identify individuals.”
Accounts suspected to belong to underage users may be required to complete age verification checks, while accounts that cannot confirm age could face removal. The company is also introducing stronger safeguards to prevent users from repeatedly creating new accounts to bypass restrictions.
Meta said the move builds on its broader Teen Account framework, which automatically places teenagers into stricter privacy and content settings designed to reduce exposure to harmful or inappropriate material and limit unwanted interactions online. These protections are already active for millions of teens globally and are being expanded into more markets.
The firm is also increasing support for parents through notifications, educational guidance, and tools available via its Family Center platform to help families better manage teenagers’ digital experiences.
In Nigeria and across Africa, conversations around online child protection are also gaining momentum because in March 2026, the Nigerian government launched a public consultation seeking citizens’ views on potential restrictions for children’s access to social media platforms to combat cyberbullying, harmful content, and online exploitation.
The initiative, led by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, seeks views from parents, educators, and experts to build a balanced, safe, and evidence-based digital framework.
Enforcement remains challenging in many African countries due to weak regulatory systems, low digital literacy, and shared-device usage among young internet users.
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