Meta Blocks Users Under 14
Some 'Yuga Parents Accounts' Also Blocked
Instagram, one of the world's largest social networking services (SNS), has started blocking users under the age of 14, and it has been reported that accounts of parents raising children have been deleted. There is speculation that the artificial intelligence (AI) system monitoring Instagram may have misidentified the age of some users.
On the 18th, numerous posts appeared on domestic online communities such as mom cafes, reporting that Instagram accounts created to share their children's daily lives were suddenly deleted. Parents expressed their frustration with comments like "My child's account was permanently deactivated" and "The account was wiped out overnight without any notice."
Some suspect that Instagram's AI-based age verification tool, which was piloted last year, may have made an error. Parents often share photos of their children's daily lives on SNS, and the AI might have judged the account holder's age to be under 14 based on this content.
As a countermeasure to prevent account blocking, alternatives such as changing the profile picture from the child to the parent are being shared. Additionally, tips like posting the phrase "account run by mom" in the profile to reduce misunderstandings are circulating.
If an account is deactivated, Meta, the operator of Instagram, reportedly sends an email stating that if a review request is made within 180 days, the activation status will be reconsidered. If a review request is submitted, accounts that were suspended abnormally are restored within 24 hours, but since users still have to endure various inconveniences, some have expressed dissatisfaction.
Meanwhile, Instagram only allows account creation for users aged 14 and above. This is Meta's operational policy to protect teenagers from the negative effects of SNS. In some countries, accounts for users aged 14 to 18 are classified as "restricted accounts," where all posts are set to private and access to harmful messages or sensitive content is blocked.
As political criticism against so-called big tech companies intensifies worldwide, not only Meta but other major SNS operators are also introducing youth protection features.
For example, YouTube announced in its official blog last August that it added new youth protection features. These features enhance the existing parental supervision functions, allowing parents to protect their early teenage children's YouTube accounts through the "Family Center" or "Family Link" applications. When a child uploads a new video or starts a live stream, an immediate notification is sent to the connected parent's account.
In the case of TikTok, which has monthly active users (MAU) well over 100 million, users aged 14 and above can access content, but basic settings are restricted by detailed age groups. For instance, users aged 14 to 15 have direct message (DM) reception restricted, and their accounts are set to private by default.
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