On Thursday, September 2, the child protection law required by the new rules came into force in the UK. This event led to a change with Instagram. Instagram’s owner company – Facebook has announced that all Instagram users must declare their date of birth to ensure compliance with the law. If they don’t fill it out, they won’t be able to use Instagram.
In a blog post published on Monday, Instagram said: “We’ll show you a notification a handful of times and if you haven’t provided us with your birthday by a certain point, you’ll need to share it to continue using Instagram.”
The company said that new features are being rolled out to improve the privacy and security of children using Instagram, it needs to verify the user’s age.
“No change without new law”
This new piece of legislation officially known as the Age-appropriate Design Code (AADC) applies to companies based outside the UK and comes with hefty fines for services that are judged not to protect underage users.
UK legislator Baroness Beeban Kidron was a driving force behind the new code said: “Instagram’s announcement fits the pattern of tech companies enacting changes to protect children’s privacy and safety before the AADC comes into force, which should encourage lawmakers.”
“Of course, companies don’t announce that they are responding to the legislation because they don’t want to admit that regulation works. Tech companies did not all simultaneously develop a conscience!”
“Instagram Change”
Last month, Instagram said that accounts intended for children under 16 will now default to more secure settings. In March, Instagram did not allow users over the age of 18 to message with unfollowed accounts who were under 18 years old.
The company said that “in a few weeks”, advertisers will only be able to customize ads based on a young person’s age, gender and location. Less information about people under the age of 18 is passed on to advertisers.
The company said: “This means that previously available targeting options, like those based on interests or their activity on other apps and websites, will no longer be available to advertisers.”
To check if users are lying about their age, Instagram will use artificial intelligence that cross-references their date of birth with messages, comments, and data from connected apps.
In a blog post, Facebook announced: “We look at things like people wishing you a happy birthday and the age written in those messages, for example, ‘Happy 21st Bday!’ or ‘Happy Quinceañera’.”
AI is also used to prevent messages with content like “adults that have shown potentially suspicious behaviour” from adults who have been blocked or reported by children.
“The Purpose of Change”
While Instagram hasn’t made any specifics on the matter, it’s probably all in line with the new rule introduced on September 2 in the UK.
Social media companies like Facebook, YouTube, and others are legally responsible for the content their algorithms serve to people under the age of 18 under the AADC Code.
According to the AADC, companies will no longer be able to justify that their platforms are not designed or made for children.
These rules also apply to services that are not based in the UK. Companies could face fines of more than 20 million euros or 4% of their annual turnover if they are found in breach by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office.
Kidron told Euronews Next: “These changes are just the start. All services are likely to be accessed by children within the scope of the code, and over time we will see new norms of design. It is gratifying to hear that product teams in major platforms are finally considering the ‘best interests of children’, as the code sets out, as they build new products and services.”
