Meta is introducing new AI-powered age verification systems that could estimate users’ ages by analyzing physical characteristics such as height and bone structure, as tech firms face mounting pressure to protect children online.

The company said the technology is designed to identify underage users across platforms like Facebook and Instagram without relying solely on self-reported birth dates.

According to Meta, the system is not based on facial recognition but instead uses “visual signals” and behavioral clues linked to profiles to estimate whether a user may be under 13 years old.

Accounts suspected of belonging to underage users could be automatically disabled until proof of age is provided, the company said.

Meta also plans to expand reporting tools that allow users to flag accounts believed to belong to children below the permitted age threshold, helping the company identify and remove such profiles more effectively.

The initiative comes amid growing global regulation requiring platforms, apps, and digital services to strengthen age verification measures to shield children from harmful or inappropriate online content.

The company said it has been developing safety-focused AI tools for years to create “age-appropriate and positive experiences” for younger users, adding that additional AI systems are already being deployed across Meta platforms to detect underage accounts.

The new technology is now being expanded into additional regions as governments worldwide tighten scrutiny over child safety, online privacy, and digital platform accountability.

Experts say the move highlights a broader shift toward AI-driven identity verification, though it is also likely to intensify debates around biometric privacy, surveillance concerns, and the ethical use of automated age-detection systems.