The internet has changed dramatically over the years, and there are increasing concerns for children who may be accessing the internet at an early age, who are therefore vulnerable.
Age verification used on sites is rapidly transitioning from just a ‘click-to-confirm’ approach to a complex, AI-driven, and often mandatory digital security check.
As a result, it’s altering the internet from what is a somewhat anonymous space to one that’s defined by identification. Is that for good or bad benefit? Let’s take a look at how it’s changing the internet and whether that impact is good in general for internet users of all ages.
1. From self-declaration to biometrics
Modern age verification now bypasses the honor system and, as such, requires verifiable evidence that the user in question is over 18. Such methods that are being used to verify these ages include:
Facial age estimation
AI helps to analyze a live selfie in order to estimate age, often with liveness checks like the user turning their head or blinking. This prevents having to use photos.
Government-issued IDs
Scanning a driver’s license or passport is often matched with a live photo to ensure the user is actually the owner of the government-issued ID provided.
Digital wallets
Using open banking or credit card verification also helps to prove the adulthood of the user.
2. A significant shift in digital privacy
With age verification rules in place, this introduces some serious privacy and security issues due to users having to share sensitive, personal data with third-party verification companies.
Data breach risks
Databases of verified users will likely become high-value targets for hackers due to simply being a legitimate user online that they can then try to exploit.
Data reuse concerns
Concerns will exist that verification providers could end up using the data for marketing or surveillance purposes.
End of anonymity
As a result of age verification, it could end the era of anonymous browsing as platforms move towards requiring mandatory identification.
3. Technical and legal challenges
The implementation of age verification and laws that make it a necessity can face serious backlash and pose technical challenges as well.
Despite increased surveillance, critics will argue that children can still bypass checks by using parent accounts and making use of deepfakes.
With mandatory age checks being costly, it could force a lot of smaller platforms to block entire regions rather than having to comply.
Many activists against such limitations online argue that these measures are a chokehold on user freedom and are a form of soft censorship rather than a true safety measure.
4. Impact on content and access
There’s an impact on content and access that’s worth thinking about, too. Platforms like social media, search engines, and pornography sites are all facing pressure to implement checks to avoid large fines.
Users may be blocked from accessing content unless they submit age verification, which is digital gatekeeping.
As a result of this, users may turn to VPNs to bypass or protect their anonymity. Age verification can also end up marginalizing communities, restricting access to online spaces that serve as lifelines for many.
It’s certainly something that’s being seen as a positive or a negative, depending on how you spin it. Ultimately, it’s something that’s likely to continue ruffling feathers and looking at further solutions to protect both vulnerable internet users, as well as ensuring privacy is also protected.
