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Why Age Verification Systems Matters In this Digital Age?

Author: Soban K | 04 Sep 2023

The digital landscape has become an undeniable part of our lives, and for young people, it’s often their primary access to information and entertainment. However, this vast online world can also harbour inappropriate content that can negatively impact a child’s development.

Statistics paint a concerning picture: globally, one-third of internet users are minors. This exposes a significant portion of the population to potential dangers, from age-restricted content like violent video games to online bullying. A recent study revealed that nearly 60% of teenagers in the United States have encountered online bullying, highlighting the urgent need for stronger safeguards.

This is where age verification software steps in to ensure content, digital experiences, and interactions are suitable and secure for individuals of all age groups. Age verification is more than just a necessity; it’s a pivotal tool for preserving online safety, privacy, and legal compliance. These systems act as gatekeepers, ensuring that only users who meet the age requirement can access specific content or services. By implementing robust age verification measures, we can create a safer online environment for young people and foster a more responsible digital space for all.

Key Points

  • Age verification systems play a crucial role in safeguarding minors from age-restricted content.
  • Age verification is not only a matter of safety but also a legal requirement in many regions.
  • Age verification is a fundamental tool for maintaining online safety, particularly for young internet users. 
  • Facia offers robust and secure age verification, harnessing advanced facial recognition technology to minimize unauthorized access.

This blog post discusses age verification, its importance, its functionalities, and the various methods employed to protect young minds and ensure a more secure online experience.

What is Age Verification and How it Works?

What is Age Verification System?

Age verification systems, often called age gates, are technical protection measures that restrict access to digital content from those not appropriately aged. These systems are the ultimate way of mitigating minor exploitation and are vital in limiting access to inappropriate content for users under a specific age, such as alcohol and tobacco advertising, adult-oriented content, or video games with objectionable material.

How Age Verification System Works?

Age verification systems act as the virtual gatekeepers, that look at a user’s age before allowing entry to specific digital domains. These systems operate via a combination of sophisticated software and hardware capabilities that reliably ascertain individuals’ age ranges, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and meeting minimum age criteria. 

Whether you’re running an online business or providing age-restricted services, age assurance, ID verification, and age checks are essential components in safeguarding a secure and compliant digital environment.

Why Age Verification is Important?

Age verification, also known as age gating, is a critical process that confirms a user’s age to provide or restrict access to online content or services. It checks users’ age and also plays a pivotal role in ensuring online safety and preserving the sanctity of digital experiences. Let’s break down its significance:

  • Protects Minors from Age-Restricted Content
  • Legal Compliances and Regulations
  • Builds trust with consumers
  • Enhances online safety

Minors Protection

At its core, age verification is about safeguarding minors from age-restricted goods or content. It prevents underage individuals from accessing these potentially harmful spaces and also prevents any purchases they shouldn’t

Notably, the Pew Research Center reports that 59% of U.S. teenagers have faced online bullying. Meanwhile, a UK study found that 1 in 4 children encountered disturbing content on social media. UNICEF’s report highlights that nearly one-third of youths in 30 countries have experienced online bullying. These statistics are alarming!

To learn more about how age verification can help safeguard minors online, you can explore our blog on age verification’s role in protecting minors from online scams.

Legal Compliances and Regulations

Beyond moral and ethical considerations, age verification is also a legal requirement nowadays. Governments and regulatory bodies around the world have recognized the need to protect minors online. They’ve enacted laws and regulations that mandate age verification, making it not just a good practice but a legal requirement for businesses.

  • GDPR: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a pivotal framework with significant implications for age verification, especially concerning the collection of minor data.
  • DPIAs: Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) are essential tools for companies to detect and mitigate potential data protection issues. These assessments play a crucial role in shaping age verification protocols.

Louisiana Age Verification

One notable example is the recent introduction of age verification law in Louisiana. This legislation, designed to align with broader privacy regulations, represents a significant step in ensuring age-appropriate online experiences.

To Build Trust and confidence

  • Consumer Confidence: By implementing robust age verification measures, businesses demonstrate their commitment to user safety. This commitment fosters consumer confidence, which can be a powerful driver of brand loyalty and trust.
  • Security: Age verification not only safeguards minors but also enhances overall security. It helps prevent fraud, identity theft, and misuse of personal information, thereby creating a safer digital environment for everyone.

Why Businesses Must Embrace Age Verification Solutions

Businesses must recognize the critical importance of age verification solutions. Here are compelling reasons why embracing age verification is a strategic necessity for businesses:

Why Your Business Need an Age Verification Solution into Your Business

Financial Risks and Fraud Prevention

  • Parents could face significant financial losses if their children gain unrestricted access to e-commerce sites. For instance, a father who doesn’t restrict his child’s access to his personal computer with saved payment methods could inadvertently lead to unauthorized purchases. Robust age verification prevents such mishaps.
  • Organizations without strong security measures for age verification may find themselves entangled in lawsuits if minors access their products or services. This legal compliance is crucial in mitigating risks.

Personalizes Marketing

  • Age verification data provide businesses with the means to accurately segment their user base. Armed with this information, companies can tailor marketing campaigns and user experiences to specific age groups, resulting in higher engagement and increased conversions.

Enhance Online Safety

  • Age verification, an active process, plays a pivotal role in enhancing online safety. By accurately determining users’ ages, it creates a secure digital environment where privacy notice is not just a requirement but a commitment to safeguarding user data.
  • Age estimation, a cornerstone of age verification, is essential for protecting users and ensuring online safety. It goes beyond legal compliance and fosters trust.
  • The responsibility of safeguarding age-restricted goods and content from underage users rests on businesses and customers. Through robust age checks and adherence to the age restriction, companies ensure their platforms remain secure and free from the risks of fake IDs and unauthorized access to adult content.
  • In this shared commitment, the age verification law sets the framework, but it’s the active participation of businesses and their customers that makes a difference. This collective effort ensures a respectful online experience, upholding the minimum age requirement and protecting the rights of all users.

Learn How to Choose the Right Age Verification Solution for Your Business.

Types of Age Verification Systems

Age verification ensures that users meet certain age requirements to access content or services, often online. Different systems and technologies cater to various industries and user needs. Here’s a simple breakdown of the types and methods of age verification:

Evolution of Age Verification Methods Quick Overview

Traditional Methods: ID Checks and Manual Review

These are traditional methods where users physically show their IDs or documents for inspection, like at an offline store or event entrance.

  • Pros: Traditional methods are highly accurate, particularly when the authenticity of an ID can be confirmed.
  • Cons: They may prove impractical for many online scenarios, and they can require users to reveal sensitive personal information.

Digital Methods: Age Verification Software, Apps, and APIs

Digital methods offer modern solutions, particularly suitable for online services. Let’s explore some of the digital age verification methods:

Date of Birth Checkbox: A straightforward way where users input their date of birth or tick a box confirming they are above a certain age. It’s simple but its effectiveness entirely depends on the user’s honesty.

ID Scanning: Users scan and upload documents like driver’s licenses or passports. It’s more accurate and helps in reducing false information.

  • Pros: These methods are efficient, quick, and user-friendly for online verifications.
  • Cons: Their reliability might vary, and users might have concerns about sharing personal data online.

Social Media Authentication

Some systems use age information from users’ social media profiles for verification.

  • Pros: It’s a quick method and doesn’t require users to input a lot of additional information.
  • Cons: Not all users might want to link their social media profiles due to privacy concerns.

API and Biometric Verification

Innovative methods involve more advanced technology.

Biometric Authentication: This uses unique physical characteristics like fingerprints or facial recognition. It’s secure and hard to fake.

APIs: Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) allow different software to communicate, making the verification process smoother.

  • Pros: These methods are secure and make the user experience smoother.
  • Cons: They might be more complex and require users to have access to certain technologies.

Different Types of Age Verification Methods

Age verification methods come in various forms, offering diverse options to cater to different needs. Here’s an overview of the different types of age verification methods:

  • Age Verification Software: Digital tools that use algorithms and databases to verify a user’s age online, often integrated into websites and apps for efficient age checks.
  • Age Verification App: Mobile applications designed for age verification, allowing users to confirm their age conveniently via smartphones.
  • Age Verification Device: Physical hardware for real-time age checks, typically used offline or in-person, such as in bars and venues.
  • Age Verification Machine: Similar to devices, these machines enable quick age verification, often found in retail and event settings.
  • Age Verification SaaS: Cloud-based solutions that offer age verification capabilities as a service, simplifying integration for businesses.
  • Age Verification Scanner: Physical scanners that read and verify information from ID documents, are commonly used in places like casinos.
  • Age Verification Tools: A versatile category encompassing various methods and technologies for confirming a user’s age, providing flexibility for businesses.

Age Verification Solution Across Industries

Age verification acts like a guardian in various industries, ensuring that age-restricted products and content are accessed responsibly and legally. Let’s discover its role in various sectors by looking at real-world examples

Tobacco, Gambling, and Alcohol

Consider an online liquor store or a platform that sells e-cigarettes. These businesses have a lot of age-restricted products. They must ensure that their products don’t end up in the hands of minors.

A person trying to purchase a bottle of wine from an online liquor store may be required to go through age verification by uploading a scanned copy of an ID or through age verification software. Similar checks are pivotal in online gambling platforms to prevent underage gambling.

The Digital World: Platforms like Roblox and Discord

Guardians of the Young: Platforms like Roblox and Discord are popular among youngsters. They are spaces of creativity, interaction, and gaming, and hence, they attract a considerable number of minors.

Age Verification for Safety: Age checks can be utilized to moderate the user experience, ensuring that it remains safe and age-appropriate. For example, a 12-year-old signing up on Roblox may have access only to specific age-appropriate games and communities, effectively acting as an “age gate” to potentially harmful content.

How Age Verification Technology Securing Online Businesses Across Sectors

Age Verification Regulations Around the Globe 

Age verification laws are critical to ensuring a safer digital environment for minors and protecting them from accessing age-inappropriate content or services.

However, the methods and strictness of these regulations vary, often influenced by cultural, political, and societal factors unique to each region. Most of these laws are rooted in a genuine concern for minors’ welfare, aiming to shield them from potential digital hazards. 

Let’s explore some of the notable age verification regulations in different regions:

GDPR: The European Standard

 The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is perhaps the most well-known piece of legislation in the world of data protection. Originating in the European Union, the GDPR demands stringent data protection measures for its citizens. 

 United Kingdom (UK)

Despite abandoning the Digital Economy Act 2017, age verification remains essential, and regulatory bodies like the Office of Communications (Ofcom) and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) continue to monitor and enforce age verification measures.

Emerging standards like PAS1296:2018 and the ISO standard for age assurance systems (PWI 7732) demonstrate the industry’s commitment to enhancing age verification measures.

Businesses operating in the UK must stay informed about the evolving regulations and adopt robust age verification solutions to comply with legal requirements and safeguard minors online.

Germany

The Jugendmedienschutz-Staatsvertrag introduced in 2002 mandates age verification systems. The German Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media (KJM) considers face-to-face verification equivalent methods sufficient.

United States (US)

  • The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires age verification for websites targeting children under 13 to comply with federal privacy regulations.
  • Some US states, like Arkansas and Utah, have passed social media addiction bills that require age verification to enforce restrictions on minors’ social media usage.
  • On the other side of the Atlantic, California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (California AADC) is gaining traction.

Australia

The Australian Classification Board assigns age ratings to media content, including video games, films, and publications, to protect minors from accessing inappropriate material.

Why Choose Facia’s Automated Age Verification System 

  • Robust and Secure Verification: Harnesses advanced facial recognition technology to effectively minimize unauthorized access.
  • Automated Processes: Provides instant and precise results, streamlining the verification process.
  • Legal Compliance: Assists in compliance with age-related regulations and laws.
  • Enhanced User Experience: Ensures swift and secure access to services, improving the overall user experience.
  • Trust and Reliability: Builds confidence and trust between businesses and users through secure verification.
  • Global Operability: Offers accurate verification on a global scale, catering to users worldwide.

Choose Facia’s Automated Age Verification System for a secure, efficient, and globally compliant solution that enhances both security and user satisfaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do they verify age?
Age is verified through methods like scanning government-issued IDs, and birth certificates, or using biometric data, such as facial recognition. These techniques actively confirm a user's age, ensuring secure access to age-restricted content or services.
How is age verified online?
Online age verification actively utilizes various methods, including ID scanning, biometric analysis, or digital age confirmation, enhancing safety and compliance in the digital space.
Is there an age verification app?
Indeed, age verification apps actively exist, Facia Age verification apps, employ biometrics or document scanning to actively confirm a user's age, bolstering online safety and regulatory adherence.
What is age verification in biometrics?
Age verification in biometrics actively leverages unique physical traits, like facial features, to verify an individual's age. This active approach ensures secure access to age-restricted content or services.
What is age verification privacy?
Age verification privacy actively revolves around protecting personal data during the verification process. It actively ensures that sensitive information is safeguarded, actively minimizing the risk of misuse.