Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- proactively / proʊˈæk tɪv li / (adv.) – in a way that means doing something early to deal with a problem or situation before it happens
Example:The IT company proactively updates the software to avoid technical issues.
- misrepresent / ˌmɪs rɛp rɪˈzɛnt / (v.) – to give false or incorrect information about something, especially to fool others
Example:She didn’t get the job because she was caught misrepresenting her qualifications.
- heightened / ˈhaɪ tənd / (adj.) – made stronger or more serious than before
Example:The disturbing news caused heightened concern among local residents.
- verification / ˌvɛr ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən / (n.) – the process of checking that something is true or correct
Example:Banks perform identity verification before allowing someone to open an account.
- the onus / ði ˈoʊ nəs / (n.) – the responsibility or duty to do something
Example:In court, the onus is on the lawyer to prove the case.
Article
Read the text below.
Instagram is beginning to test the use of artificial intelligence to determine if kids are lying about their ages on the app, parent company Meta Platforms said.
Meta has been using AI to determine people’s ages for some time, the company said, but the photo and video-sharing app will now “proactively” look for teen accounts it suspects belong to teenagers even if they entered an inaccurate birthdate when they signed up.
If it is determined that a user is misrepresenting their age, the account will automatically become a teen account, which has more restrictions than an adult account. Teen accounts are private by default. Private messages are restricted so teens can only receive them from people they follow or are already connected to. “Sensitive content,” such as videos of people fighting or those promoting cosmetic procedures, will be limited, Meta said. Teens will also get notifications if they are on Instagram for more than 60 minutes, and a “sleep mode” will be enabled that turns off notifications and sends auto-replies to direct messages from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m.
Meta says it trains its AI to look for signals, such as the type of content the account interacts with, profile information and when the account was created, to determine the owner’s age.
The heightened measures arrive as social media companies face increased scrutiny over how their platforms affect the mental health and well-being of younger users. A growing number of states are also trying to pass age verification laws, although they have faced court challenges.
Meta and other social media companies support putting the onus on app stores to verify ages amid criticism that they don’t do enough to make their products safe for children—or verify that no kids under 13 use them.
Instagram will also send notifications to parents “with information about how they can have conversations with their teens on the importance of providing the correct age online,” the company said.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Social media platforms are trying new ways, like using AI, to check users’ real ages. Do you think it’s okay for companies to use AI to guess someone’s age? Why or why not? How would you feel if an app scanned your activity to learn about you without asking? Discuss.
- What are some risks if AI makes a mistake about someone’s age? How could that affect the user’s experience on the app? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Some teenagers lie about their age to access some apps. Why do you think they do it? Do you think lying about your age online is a serious problem? Why or why not? Discuss.
- Do you think it’s possible for users who lie about their age online to be punished? Why or why not? Who should be held responsible or face consequences when this happens (ex. teens, the companies)? Why do you say so? Discuss.
