In most countries you have to be at least 13 to have an Instagram account. If an account is under review for belonging to someone under 13, or the birthday on it is under 13, Instagram shows "You're Not Old Enough to Use Instagram" and removes the account. If that's wrong, tap Appeal, follow the steps and submit a valid ID. Instagram says the review can take up to 30 days, and the account is restored if it made a mistake. In some regions Instagram can also ask you to confirm your age with your birthday, an ID or a video selfie.
Why Instagram asks for your birthday
Instagram says you must be at least 13 years old to have an account in most countries, and it asks everyone for a birthday to help make sure underage people aren't using the app.
- Every account, not just personal ones. Instagram says this applies whether the account represents you or was created for something else, like a pet, a hobby or a brand. So the birthday to enter is the date of birth of the person who runs the account, not the date a business was founded.
- Your birthday isn't public. Your profile doesn't show other people when you were born, even if the account is public.
- Younger teens start private. When people under 16 (or under 18 in certain countries) sign up, the account is set to private by default.
"You're Not Old Enough to Use Instagram": what it means
Instagram says you'll see this message if your account is under review for being under 13, or if you've added a birthday that makes you under 13. The account is then removed.
It can happen to adults too, for example when a wrong birth year was typed in by accident, or when the founding date of a business was entered instead of a person's date of birth. Whatever the cause, the way back is the appeal.
How to appeal an age decision
- Tap Appeal at the bottom of the message.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and submit a valid ID.
- Wait for the review. Instagram says it reviews your birthday, which may take up to 30 days. If it finds that it made a mistake, it lets you know and restores your account.
A few practical habits (our advice, not Instagram rules):
- Submit the ID of the person who actually runs the account.
- Photograph the whole document flat, in even light, with every line readable and no glare.
- Write down the date you appealed so you know when the 30 days are up.
When Instagram asks you to confirm your age
Age checks don't only happen after a removal. Instagram says that in some regions you may be required to confirm your age to keep using your account, and you may also need to verify it to access certain features or to change your birthday.
- The options: your birthday, a photo ID and/or a video selfie.
- The partner: Instagram works with Yoti, a third-party age verification service, which can verify your age from a video selfie or an uploaded ID.
- Privacy: Instagram says the information you give is used to confirm your age and isn't visible on your profile, to friends or to other people on Instagram.
- Your birthday: you can review and edit it in your settings.
How the age video selfie works
Instagram says this option is only available in some countries. One example it gives: if you're under 16 and try to change your age to over 16, you'll be asked for more information to verify it.
- It estimates age, not identity. Instagram shares an image from your selfie with its vendor, whose technology only estimates age and can't identify specific people.
- The image is deleted. Once your age has been estimated and shared with Instagram, it deletes the image within 30 days. It says it doesn't share any other information about you with the vendor.
- How to record it. Keep your whole face visible with enough light, don't wear anything that covers your face, like a mask or a hat, and move your face in the directions shown on screen.
- How long it takes. Up to 20 minutes, and you get a notification with the outcome.
This is a different check from the video selfie Instagram uses to confirm who you are during account recovery: how the identity video selfie works.
Not the same: "not available to people under 18"
Creators sometimes confuse an age check with a label in Account Status. If your profile or content covers topics that don't follow Instagram's age-appropriate guidelines, your account may not be available to people under 18. It isn't removed, but without a parent's or guardian's permission, teens may not be able to see your profile, follow you or message you.
- You'll find it under Settings → Account Status → Availability to people under 18.
- You can edit or archive the flagged content or update your profile; Instagram reviews the changes, which can take up to 24 hours.
- In some cases you can request a review without changing anything, through Request review.
More on Account Status and reach: Instagram reach dropped? Account Status explained.
Only send your ID inside the app
Age and identity checks happen in Instagram's own flow. Nobody can do them for you, and anyone who asks you to send them a photo of your ID or a selfie video "to unlock" your account is running a scam: how to spot recovery scams.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Instagram take to review an age appeal?
Instagram says the review of your birthday may take up to 30 days. If it finds that it made a mistake, it lets you know and restores your account.
What do I need to appeal an under-13 removal?
Tap Appeal at the bottom of the message, follow the on-screen instructions and submit a valid ID.
Does Instagram keep my age verification selfie?
Instagram says it deletes the image within 30 days once your age has been estimated and shared with it. Its vendor's technology only estimates age and can't identify specific people.
Can I change my birthday on Instagram?
You can review and edit your birthday in your settings, but Instagram may ask you to verify your age first, for example if you're under 16 and try to change your age to over 16.
Account removed and the appeal isn't moving?
Tell us what the notice says and when you appealed. We'll tell you for free what you can still do. We never ask for your password, codes or ID.
Sources
- Why Instagram is asking for your birthday (Instagram Help Center) help.instagram.com
- Confirming your age on Instagram (Instagram Help Center) help.instagram.com
- How does video selfie age verification work on Instagram? (Instagram Help Center) help.instagram.com
- See if your Instagram account is available for people under 18 (Instagram Help Center) help.instagram.com