Instagram initiates age verification for users in the UK

Instagram rolls out age verification measures for UK users to comply with the UK Age Appropriate Design code.

Meta’s Instagram has introduced age verification for UK users. Users will be asked either to produce an identity document, such as a passport, license, or verified national ID card or to use the age-verification technology developed by Yoti, a UK-based identity verification company, to verify that users are 18 or over. The latter records a short video selfie, which is analyzed by AI and then immediately deleted. These measures come in response to requirements promulgated under last year’s UK Age Appropriate Design code, as well as in anticipation of the UK Online Safety Bill. In addition, Instagram announced that AI would help identify whether a user is a teen or an adult to ensure that users get appropriate content.