Instagram has announced that it will test new ways for users to verify their age in order to offer more experiences that are appropriate for their age.
Instagram said it has worked with Yoti, a business that specializes in online age verification, to safeguard users’ privacy in addition to allowing users to post their (ID) identification evidence, which would be removed after 30 days.
“We require people to be at least 13 years old to sign up for 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,” they said in a blog.
They are trying two additional techniques to confirm a person’s age in addition to having them upload their ID.
Video Selfie: Here a user can choose to upload a video selfie to verify their age.
If you select this option, your screen will display instructions to help you. They will only share the image of your video selfie with Yoti after you take it. Based on your face traits, Yoti’s algorithm will guess your age and let us know what it thinks.
“Meta and Yoti will delete the image after verification. The technology cannot recognise your identity just your age,”
Social Vouching: This option allows you to ask mutual followers to confirm how old you are.
The individual providing the vouch must be at least 18 years old, cannot be providing a vouch for another person at that time, and must also adhere to other requirements we have in place. You will be asked to prove your age, and the three persons you choose to vouch for you will have three days to do so.