Meta announced new artificial intelligence-powered age detection systems this week designed to identify and remove underage users from its platforms, analyzing visual elements including height and bone structure in photos and videos to estimate user age without facial recognition, according to company statements released May 5. The updated framework builds on existing methods scanning profiles for age indicators such as birthday celebrations or school grade mentions. Meta emphasized the visual analysis examines general themes rather than identifying individuals, addressing privacy concerns that led it to shut down facial recognition features in 2021. The company enrolled hundreds of millions of teens into protected Teen Accounts across Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger since September 2024. Meta will implement simplified reporting flows for flagging suspected underage accounts while expanding proactive teen detection technology to Brazil and 27 European Union countries. US-based parents will receive notifications on Facebook and Instagram with guidance about verifying teenagers’ listed ages. The enhanced enforcement arrives as Meta faces mounting regulatory pressure: a New Mexico jury ordered the company to pay $375 million in civil penalties in March 2026 for violating consumer protection laws and endangering children, while the European Commission announced preliminary findings in April determining Meta’s age-checking systems failed to meet Digital Services Act obligations. Despite advances, recent reports indicate approximately 46% of children believe age checks remain easy to bypass.