{"id":181660,"date":"2019-12-05T22:23:51","date_gmt":"2019-12-05T14:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geek.com\/featured\/-1812785\/"},"modified":"2019-12-05T22:23:51","modified_gmt":"2019-12-05T14:23:51","slug":"instagram-introduces-age-verification-tool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/test\/wordpress\/2019\/12\/05\/instagram-introduces-age-verification-tool\/","title":{"rendered":"Instagram Introduces Age Verification Tool"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo Credit: NeONBRAND\/Unsplash<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

In an effort to better protect the youngest members of its community, Instagram is rolling out a handful of updates\u2014including age verification.<\/span><\/p>\n

The social network now requires new users to enter their date of birth when creating an account\u2014be it personal, business, or a domesticated animal.<\/span><\/p>\n

You must be at least 13 years old to have an account in most countries. Which means anyone born after this (or any subsequent) date in 2006 need not apply.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Asking for this information will help prevent underage people from joining Instagram, help us keep young people safer, and enable more age-appropriate experiences overall,” the company wrote in a blog post<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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According to Instagram’s Terms of Use, you must be at least 13 years old to have an account in most countries (via Instagram)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Or does it?<\/span><\/p>\n

There is, of course, a simple workaround: All it takes is the addition or subtraction of a few days or years, and even a savvy seven-year-old can access all the filtered-photo feeds they want.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your listed birthday, though not visible to others, can be found in private account information.<\/span><\/p>\n

By connecting an existing Facebook profile to Instagram, the family firms will automatically extrapolate your date of birth\u2014which when edited on Facebook also changes on Instagram.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moving forward, the content-sharing platform will use birthday information “to create more tailored experiences,” the social media site said.<\/span><\/p>\n

But don’t get too excited: Those new “experiences” include education around account controls and recommended privacy settings for young people.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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Allow only people you follow to message and add you to group threads (via Instagram)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Instagram is also taking steps to let users control who slides into their DMs.<\/span><\/p>\n

The upcoming feature would let folks choose to allow only accounts they follow to message and add them to group threads.<\/span><\/p>\n

“People who enable this setting will no longer receive messages, group message requests, or story replies from anyone they have not chosen to follow,” according to the blog.<\/span><\/p>\n

This sounds suspiciously like a parental control for children. But also a nice perk for adults who are sick of unsolicited dick pics and overzealous stans.<\/span><\/p>\n

“These newest updates are part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring Instagram remains a safe and supportive place,” the platform said. “Especially for the youngest people in our community.”<\/span><\/p>\n

More on Geek.com:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n