Meta now scans photos for bone structure and body size to flag minors on Instagram and Facebook

THE DECODER / 5/6/2026

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Key Points

  • Meta is using AI-assisted image analysis on Instagram and Facebook to identify whether content shows minors, based on visual cues like body size or bone structure.
  • The company says the approach does not rely on facial recognition, distinguishing it from identity-based detection methods.
  • This system is intended to help Meta flag minors in photos using physical/biometric-like characteristics rather than looking at faces.
  • The announcement raises notable privacy and bias considerations because age inference from body features can be sensitive and error-prone.

Meta uses AI-supported image analysis to recognize minors on Instagram and Facebook, based on visual characteristics such as body size or bone structure, not facial recognition, as the company emphasizes.

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