INSTAGRAM is asking youngsters to verify their age using selfies.
It’s part of Instagram’s ongoing battle to correctly identify teens – and keep very young children off the app.
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There are two new ways that users will be asked to verify their age.
The first is by uploading a selfie in the Instagram app – using UK-based company Yoti.
Yoti analyses selfies to determine age ranges, with around 98/99% accuracy.
It works by checking your facial features in a video selfie and creating an age estimate.
Once Instagram (and its parent company Meta) and Yoti have verified your age, the video is deleted.
“We require people to be at least 13 years old to sign up for Instagram,” said Instagram.
“In some countries, our minimum age is higher. When we know if someone is a teen (13-17), we provide them with age-appropriate experiences.
“Like defaulting them into private accounts, preventing unwanted contact from adults they don’t know and limiting the options advertisers have to reach them with ads.”
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Another option is to ask mutual friends to verify your age.
The person vouching needs to be 18 years old and not vouching for anyone else at the same time.
They will also have to meet “other safeguards” that weren’t detailed by Instagram.
You can also use the current method of simply verifying your age with an ID.
This process is triggered if someone attempts to edit their date of birth on Instagram from below 18 to over 18.
The new tech is rolling out in the US initially, but will likely land in the UK eventually too.
“Understanding someone’s age online is a complex, industry-wide challenge,” Instagram explained.
“We want to work with others in our industry, and with governments, to set clear standards for age verification online.
“Many people, such as teens, don’t always have access to the forms of ID that make age verification clear and simple.
“As an industry, we have to explore novel ways to approach the dilemma of verifying someone’s age when they don’t have an ID.”
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
