While doing your quick (hour-long) scroll through the social media app, you may have come across a pop-up notification that says “Add Your Birthday”. So, naturally, you must be thinking why is Instagram asking for my birthday? Is it going to gift me more followers and make me famous on the gram? Or hey, maybe the app wants to give you public status that will finally help you woo your crush?
These are some of the questions you may be having because of the shady “Add Your Birthday” pop-up. Now, you can easily tap on the “Not Now” option, get rid of it (for a while), and go back to watching reels. But, both you and I know that the pop-up is going to be back sooner or later. So, don’t you think it’s better to find an answer to your question– why is Instagram asking for my birthday and dealing with the matter for good? If yes, keep reading!
Table of Contents
Why Is Instagram Asking For My Birthday | The Mystery Behind “Add Your Birthday” Pop-Up!
Oh, and before we proceed any further, I just want to tell you that you don’t have to be too paranoid thinking, why is Instagram asking for my birthday? It is no big deal, it’s just Instagram following its protocols. Now, if you want to know why those birthday cake emojis keep pestering you on your home screen, go on to read this post!
So, Why Is Instagram Asking For Your Birthday?
The reason behind Instagram asking for your birthday isn’t anything random at all. The platform takes user-safety seriously and that’s why it has been asking users to add their birthdays since 2019. But, if you’re someone who created an Instagram account before 2019, then Instagram is asking for your birthday just so that it can update your profile according to its latest protocol.
Yes, the app keeps evolving for the better. But what is the benefit of asking for people’s birthdays? Well you see, the app wants to make sure that people who are below 13 years of age are not using this photo-sharing app. It is Instagram’s way of ensuring user safety.
To have an account on Instagram, you must be at least 13 years old. The information received through the “Add Your Birthday” pop-up is also being used to ensure that the younger set of users aren’t being exposed to any potentially sensitive information.
If you’re thinking that people can easily fake their age, then hey, Instagram also has age restriction and age verification processes! On top of that, you won’t be able to edit your birthday once you’ve entered it on Instagram. This is done to stop people from entering their false birthday/ age.
If you happen to be one of those people who lied about their age on Facebook and said that you were 13, when you were actually younger, your age may be listed as a couple of years older. And, you may also be reminded of this rule often. Yes, you can’t hoodwink the platform or bypass its rules easily.
Also, I understand that you may have some concerns about adding your birthday to the platform. Unlike Facebook which has a feature that reminds people, it’s your birthday, in case you’ve not disabled it, Instagram sends no such reminders to your forgetful friends. So, if you ever want to remind people or announce that it’s your birthday, then you will have to repost those birthday countdown stories yourself.
On a totally related note, in case you’re wondering what will happen if you don’t meet the age criteria, then well, Instagram will not allow you to use the platform anymore. Adding birthday is mandatory, you see. Plus, your account can be removed if you’re suspected to be below the age of 13. The same thing applies even if you’ve accidentally entered your age to be under 13.
So, if you genuinely think that it was a mistake, you can take up the issue with Instagram. You’ll be required to submit an ID that proves that you’re above the age of 13. If the ID that you present is valid, then you might get your account back in 30 business days or less.
Final Words
We’ve reached the end of this post, and so, I hope you’ve received a satisfactory answer to your question, why is Instagram asking for my birthday? The app is just trying to verify that you’re below 13 and is trying to look out for the younger folks! Even though those cake emojis can be slightly irritating, you can’t really hold this against the app! So, do comply with the rules and cooperate with the procedure, or else you may have to kiss your account goodbye!
How do I get Instagram to stop asking me for my birthday?
If you want Instagram to stop asking you for your birthday, then go to Settings > Account > Personal Information to add your Birthday if it’s not there already. You might want to do this now to avoid the prompt later. Note that if you’ve connected your Facebook and Instagram accounts, Instagram will automatically fill your birthday from Facebook.
What happens if I don’t give Instagram my birthday?
You’ll be able to ignore it, but only up to a certain point — eventually, Instagram says, you’ll have to add your birthday if you want to keep using the app. Instagram also says that if it doesn’t have your birthday, it’ll ask for it before showing you posts that are marked as sensitive.
Can I refuse to give Instagram my birthday?
If you haven’t provided your birthday to the service, you’ll eventually see prompts asking you to enter it. You can dismiss these a few times, but after a while, you’ll be required to enter your birthday to keep using your account.
Does Instagram show when your birthday is?
Your birthday will only be visible to you and you will find it in your Personal Information Account Settings.
