Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, is implementing a global age-estimation technology this month. The system, which uses AI to identify users suspected to be underage, will initially apply to Instagram accounts, with plans to expand it to Facebook and Threads later in the year. This move comes in response to settlements and criticism regarding the protection of teenagers from online harm. Teen accounts, characterized by stricter content restrictions and time limits, will benefit from this initiative as it aims to prevent minors from circumventing parental controls and accessing harmful content. The technology analyzes user behavior and posts to determine age, and can now automatically categorize accounts based on the estimated age, even if a false adult birthday was entered during account setup. Parents in the U.S. will receive notifications about these new measures for Instagram accounts set up for teenagers this month. Meta plans to extend the age estimation algorithm to Facebook and Threads later in the year. The company has faced growing legal action worldwide over concerns about the impact of its platforms on young users, with some experts claiming that platforms like Instagram and Facebook can be highly addictive and expose minors to harmful content. Despite these challenges, Meta is urging other industry leaders, such as TikTok and YouTube, to adopt similar safety measures for teenagers.