The age verification process includes

• uploading a government ID

• recording a video selfie or

• asking mutual friends to verify their age.

Instagram's video selfie process uses Yoti's video analysis to estimate a user's age.

The age verification program has been effective, with 96% of teens who have attempted to change their age from under 18 to 18+ being stopped from doing so. This enhanced level of verification helps ensure that young users are not accessing potentially harmful content and are not being targeted by inappropriate advertisements.

Social media platforms, including Instagram, can be harmful to young users, and underage usage can expose children to predators and inappropriate content. With the pandemic forcing more kids online for entertainment and social connection, additional measures like age verification are significant steps towards improving the platform's safety.

While age verification won't stop every youngster from cheating the system, the combined effort will limit their ability to cheat their way into Instagram. The expansion of the age verification program is an important development that could go a long way towards improving the safety aspects of the platform.

In an effort to make its platform safer for younger users, Instagram is expanding its age verification program to several new regions, including Mexico, Canada, South Korea, Australia, Japan, and several European countries. This program is designed to improve the accuracy of user age verification and limit access to inappropriate content on the app.