If you use Instagram, you may have seen a prompt to enter your birthday, assuming you haven't added it to your account already. But why is this, and what is Instagram going to do with your birthday information?
Let's look at why Instagram forces users to enter their birthday, and other policies the service has around this issue.
Adding Your Birthday to Instagram Is Now Mandatory
Instagram announced in a blog post in August 2021 that it would start requiring all users to add their birthday to their account. If you didn't provide your birthday to the service in the past, you've likely been forced to add it via a prompt.
The service also started requiring Instagram users to confirm their birthdays upon opening a photo labeled Sensitive Content. The site uses this label to blur photos that contain "disturbing or offensive" content.
Instagram has provided a field for your date of birth for some time. To check it, visit your profile page at the bottom-right of the Instagram app, then tap the three-bar Menu. Go to Settings > Account > Personal Information to add your Birthday if it's not there already. If you've connected your Facebook and Instagram accounts, Instagram will automatically fill your birthday from Facebook.
Your birthday is not public on your Instagram profile.
Why Does Instagram Want to Know Your Birthday?
Instagram asks for your birthday in order to further personalize the experience, but it's primarily to protect underage users. Currently, Instagram only allows people 13 and older to join.
Over time, Instagram has added several protections for teenagers. These include making the profiles of anyone under 16 private by default, preventing adults from messaging people under 18 if the teenager doesn't follow the adult, and hiding teenager profiles from adults in public spaces like the Explore page.
Of course, for Instagram to employ these protections effectively, it needs to know how old you are. By entering your birthday, you're making it easy for Instagram to know if you're a teenager or an adult, so it can set the protections accordingly. Instagram also offers parental controls for those who allow their children to use the site.
Other Ways That Instagram Verifies Age
Of course, not everyone tells the truth. If the company thinks you've lied about your age, your account may be placed under review. The You’re Not Old Enough to Use Instagram message will appear to you know that your account is in violation of the age policy. If this happens incorrectly, you can appeal the decision with a valid ID.
In a June 2022 Instagram blog post, the company laid out two additional methods it's testing to figure out how old someone is. One is using an identity verification service called Yoti to record a video selfie that estimates your age based on your facial features. The other is "social vouching," where mutual followers who are over 18 confirm that you're a legal adult. However, the company is seemingly discontinuing this, likely due to the potential for abuse.
Instagram may use other methods in the future. For example, artificial intelligence can detect a post that says "Happy 16th birthday!" and compare that to the birthday that person entered.
Cake and Candles From Instagram
Now you know why Instagram asks for your birthday. For adults, age-specific tweaks are nothing major. The protections mostly all revolve around protecting younger people who use the app.
Keep in mind that anyone—teen or adult—can take simple steps to make their Instagram account more private.