Potentially paving the way for advertising age-restricted products and services, Instagram has decided to new users must disclose their birthdates.
Facebook’s prized platform is positioning the change as a means of preventing underage consumers from using its service, as well as helping keep younger users safe, allowing for more age-appropriate experiences.
“In the coming months, we will use the birthday information you share with us to create more tailored experiences, such as education around account controls and recommended privacy settings for young people,” Instagram stated.
In most countries, Facebook’s prized platform already requires users be at least 13 years old.
Instagram is promising not to share users’ age with other users.
“This is not public information, and only you will be able to see it when viewing your own account information on Instagram,” the platform stated.
Although Instagram is not officially announcing plans to begin carrying ads for alcohol and other age-limited products and services, the change opens up that possibly.
If users’ Facebook accounts are connected to their Instagram accounts, the platform says it will simply add the date listed on their Facebook profiles.
If users don’t have a Facebook account or if their accounts are not connected, they can add or edit their birthdays directly on Instagram.
Additionally, Instagram said it is taking steps to help users control who can send them direct messages on its platform.
Specifically, only people that users already follow will be able to send them messages.
Just as well no-one has ever lied about their birth-date.