Almost everyone can purchase digital goods and services on online platforms. In 2015, a study indicated that 1.46 billion people made online purchases. Since 2021, this figure has risen dramatically by 46%. The COVID-19 pandemic is the leading cause of the migration to online shopping. Although the growing number of online clients benefits myriads of online businesses, it also introduces new obstacles.
As age verification specialists Yoti explains (https://www.yoti.com/gaming/), underage users can currently circumvent age restrictions using various websites. Although minors cannot legally purchase alcohol or tobacco products in most stores, this is not the case with shopping online. According to studies, more than a million adolescents were victims of ID theft in 2017, costing businesses and individuals a total of $2.6 billion.
This article will discuss the many methods used to determine a user’s age and the laws and policies in place to safeguard minors worldwide.
What is the Importance of Online Age Verification
Online age verification aims to prevent minors from gaining access to adult-only content. Therefore, online sellers of age-restricted goods are obligated to verify the legal age of their customers. Understanding their customers’ ages is crucial for every business operating online, and digital age verification is an excellent approach to eliminating this problem. It’s a secure way for kids to access the internet while complying with the law.
Digital Age Authentication Vs Manual Age Authentication
Age verification has become a standard procedure since the introduction of adult-oriented services. Stores selling tobacco and alcohol have a strict no-minors policy. The FDA stipulates that 18 is the legal age for purchasing or selling tobacco products. These regulations work as intended in brick-and-mortar establishments where an employee can check the buyer’s ID. However, there is no easy way to check someone’s age while shopping online.
Therefore, it is only fair that regulations meant to safeguard minors also apply to online enterprises. Therefore, digital service providers often request their customers for their login credentials. However, there have been significant advancements recently in the internet age verification procedures.
An individual’s age can now be verified with more ease using biometrics. Other online age verification systems use artificial intelligence and machine learning to determine whether the user is of legal age.
How Does Online Age Verification Work?
By implementing digital age verification services, businesses can avoid dealing with fake consumers or underage users. Here is how most age verification systems work:
1. Enter your date of birth
The user must input the date of birth information, including date of birth, using the vendor’s web form.
2. Upload files
Users provide government-issued birth documents to verify their age. These documents include identification papers, licenses, and passports.
3. Validation
Businesses check the age of their customers based on the information they offer. This is accomplished using an online ID or document verification solution. This verification solution validates the end user’s credentials.
Risks Associated with Evading Age Verification Checks
Inadequate age verification procedures pose several risks. These risks include physical and online enterprises losing their market reputation for failing to comply with regulations. The application of the regulatory framework influences the level of risk involved. Here are two main risks you can experience from failing to implement online age verification checks:
1. Negative reputation
Providing excellent customer service is crucial to the success of any organization. Customer retention and positive word-of-mouth result from happy users. Your company’s reputation can take a hit if you don’t use age verification software. Without an adequate system, children are in increased danger of accessing age-restricted goods and services.
2. Non-compliance penalties
All businesses and organizations must adhere to GDPR requirements. This rule exists to ensure confidentiality and the safety of all records. These regulations also come in handy when validating a person’s age during onboarding processes. Companies risk steep penalties if they fail to comply with GDPR.
How Does Online Age Verification Work?
Verifying a user’s age before granting access to age-restricted content is essential for shielding the next generation from the potential dangers posed by such content. Retailers must shoulder the public duty of securing their businesses and limiting access to those under 18.
Christian Scott is the founder and operator of Malware Brains, a comprehensive cybersecurity website dedicated to educating individuals and businesses about malware and its impacts on society. With over 25 years of collective industry experience, Christian and his team of experts provide unbiased, factual information to help users understand and mitigate the risks associated with malicious software.
