FP trendAugust 31, 2021 5:45:48 PM
Instagram requires users to add birthdays to their apps. In a blog post, the company announced that it will display notifications asking the app to update its birthday if it hasn’t been updated yet. This popup message (and a move that requires a date of birth) is intended to provide a safe platform for young users of the app. This allows Instagram to create personalized experiences for users and introduce features and settings based on age.
This move is also intended to make the security features recently introduced on the platform more effective. A recent update prevents adults from sending messages to users under the age of 18, and the teen’s account is private by default. The indication of your date of birth means that these safety regulations apply.
Instagram is believed to be working on AI-powered features that will prevent users from providing incorrect birthday details. Image: Instagram
This also affects the type of ads users see. Users under the age of 18 are not eligible for ads as Instagram doesn’t allow advertisers to add ads to their feeds.
If you haven’t added your birthday information to the app, a pop-up message will appear. Instagram first started asking users to add birthdays in 2019.
People who haven’t added their birthday details will still see the message. If they continue to ignore the warning, they will not be able to use the app until they finally state their birthday. It also displays a warning about the post and hides the post itself until the user’s birthday details are added.
We also recommend that users cannot escape by providing incorrect birthday details. The platform uses artificial intelligence to find out if the specified age is correct. If not, a list of options will be presented to the user to verify their age. This function is probably still in its infancy and requires a lot of work.
