Instagram: age checks in the UK

For some content or features. As of 18 October 2026, Instagram asks UK users to complete an age check for specific features, applying to accounts the service flags and accounts the service estimates to be under 18. First recorded November 2022. Instagram’s pages say the video-selfie route “is only available in some countries” and do not list them. Meta’s 5 May 2026 post says its AI teen-placement technology launched on Instagram in the UK; its visual analysis is “currently available in select countries”. Instagram’s page: “This feature is only available in some countries.” UK availability is from Meta’s October 2022 plan and a 7 November 2022 press report, not from a Meta page naming the UK. Meta: “certain advanced features — like visual analysis — are currently available in select countries as we work toward a broader rollout.”

A face scan (facial age estimation) is one of 3 recorded methods: Facial age estimation (face scan) (availability varies by jurisdiction), Photo ID and In-house age inference (availability varies by jurisdiction). Providers named: Yoti and Meta (in-house). Which methods a service offers can change; the date each was checked is shown on the page. Instagram’s pages say the video-selfie route “is only available in some countries” and do not list them. Meta’s 5 May 2026 post says its AI teen-placement technology launched on Instagram in the UK; its visual analysis is “currently available in select countries”. Instagram’s page: “This feature is only available in some countries.” UK availability is from Meta’s October 2022 plan and a 7 November 2022 press report, not from a Meta page naming the UK. Meta: “certain advanced features — like visual analysis — are currently available in select countries as we work toward a broader rollout.”

Facial age estimation (face scan) (availability varies by jurisdiction) via Yoti: "Once your age has been estimated and shared with us, we will delete the image within 30 days. We don’t share any other information about you with the vendor." (help.instagram.com; checked 18 October 2026). Photo ID via Yoti: "We’ll delete your ID within 30 days" (help.instagram.com; checked 18 October 2026). In-house age inference (availability varies by jurisdiction) via Meta (in-house): No published retention period found (checked 18 October 2026). Instagram’s pages say the video-selfie route “is only available in some countries” and do not list them. Meta’s 5 May 2026 post says its AI teen-placement technology launched on Instagram in the UK; its visual analysis is “currently available in select countries”. Instagram’s page: “This feature is only available in some countries.” UK availability is from Meta’s October 2022 plan and a 7 November 2022 press report, not from a Meta page naming the UK. Meta: “certain advanced features — like visual analysis — are currently available in select countries as we work toward a broader rollout.”

This site records what the service publishes; it does not troubleshoot or offer workarounds. Instagram's own help page is https://help.instagram.com/966909308115586/. The record lists 3 methods; availability depends on the service and account: Facial age estimation (face scan) (availability varies by jurisdiction), Photo ID and In-house age inference (availability varies by jurisdiction). If you do not complete the check, the service states: The birthday change does not go through. Instagram’s pages: an account under review for being under 13 “will be removed” unless an appeal with a valid ID succeeds; Meta’s May 2026 post: a suspected-underage account is deactivated and the holder must “provide proof of age through our age verification process to prevent their account from being deleted.” Instagram’s pages say the video-selfie route “is only available in some countries” and do not list them. Meta’s 5 May 2026 post says its AI teen-placement technology launched on Instagram in the UK; its visual analysis is “currently available in select countries”. Instagram’s page: “This feature is only available in some countries.” UK availability is from Meta’s October 2022 plan and a 7 November 2022 press report, not from a Meta page naming the UK. Meta: “certain advanced features — like visual analysis — are currently available in select countries as we work toward a broader rollout.”

Ofcom, 12 March 2026: Ofcom letter of 12 March 2026 to Facebook, Instagram, Roblox, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube: enforce minimum ages with highly effective age assurance and report back by 30 April 2026. Ofcom, 21 May 2026: Ofcom’s update on the responses to its 12 March letters: Meta “sent us a confidential letter” and “has not published its response”; Ofcom is “not currently convinced” that the commitments by Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok “ensure they will effectively prevent children under 13 from accessing their sites and apps”. Ofcom notes Meta shared recently announced changes to identify and remove under-13 accounts on Facebook and Instagram using enhanced AI. Instagram’s pages say the video-selfie route “is only available in some countries” and do not list them. Meta’s 5 May 2026 post says its AI teen-placement technology launched on Instagram in the UK; its visual analysis is “currently available in select countries”. Instagram’s page: “This feature is only available in some countries.” UK availability is from Meta’s October 2022 plan and a 7 November 2022 press report, not from a Meta page naming the UK. Meta: “certain advanced features — like visual analysis — are currently available in select countries as we work toward a broader rollout.”