Age gates, implemented as part of the age verification, are not much efficient. The reason solely being, how honest the users are in verifying their very ages.
Age verification is one of the burning issues these days. It is, without a doubt, the talk of the towns, in the business industry. Reason being, technological advances. This advancement in technology makes children exposed to various vulnerabilities. The ease in the availability of the internet and the availability of smart devices, with internet access easier than ever, makes it even more alarming.
A survey reveals, almost half the population of children in the US, have their own smartphones. The age group involves children from the ages of 11 and almost 80 percent of them are teenagers.
Age Verification Software for making age verify:
The ultimate responsibility to have age verification performed lies solely on the businesses’ shoulders. The challenge imposed by the deep involvement of the underage children on the internet has to be faced ultimately by those businesses with mature content.
The rise in demand for efficient and robust software, entailing age verification services, has been more than ever. Particularly, after many of the organizations shifting their operations online. With such a massive shift in human lives, it requires some proper functioning. Since, there have been incidents involving underage children’s access to restricted content, services, and products have been reported. Consequently, leading to unfortunate incidents.
In the past, a 16 years old boy got stabbed by a fellow schoolboy within the school premises. The offender had bought the knife from the amazon, online. Had there been some age verification software, the unfortunate incident could have been prevented.
Owing to such reasons, the concerned authorities have become very much active in hindering the underage children’s access to age-restricted contents and products. They have been thriving ever since, in providing businesses with new ways and means, for the sake of safeguarding the underage children.
Age Verification services and better compliance:
A CDC report reveals that alcohol is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 21.
Children, more than 450,000, aged between 11 and 16, regularly place the bets, a 2018 report from Young People and Gambling reveals.
Above mentioned stats, indeed present an alarming picture. It, thereby reveals, children exploiting the dark side of the internet leads to the unfortunate consequences. Therefore, the concerned authorities have made it even stricter for making compliance with the described rules and regulations. It can be stated that the authorities have been taking control of the situation well, by making the age verification software compliant to the regulations.
Age Verification Services around Globe:
Governments around the globe are coming with various legislations for safeguarding the children underage. Speaking of which, the US has passed laws, which make it mandatory to use age verification software, prior to selling certain products and services.
The US President has also made legislation, which revises the federal foods, drugs, and cosmetics act. After this legislation, the minimum age has been raised 18 to 21 years, for the sale and purchase of tobacco products.
Also, Scotland's Nicotine Vapour Products (NVP) Law, the sale and purchase is banned for the age under 18.
The shortcoming of Age Gates:
For the sake of making compliance with age-restricted rules and regulations, many businesses implement ‘Age Gates’. It is pleasant seeing that businesses have started being compliant with age verification laws and regulations. However, this still is not enough. Age gates, implemented as part of online age verification, are not much efficient. The reason solely being, how honest the user is in verifying his very age. The question prompts the user to input the date of birth or even the checkboxes for the related purpose, it all depends on whether the user is telling the truth or not.
83 percent of the child users, from the age of 11 to 15, have so far been found falsifying their ages on the internet. (Source: theguardian.com)
