The EU Kids Act, set for presentation to the European Parliament, aims to protect children online by introducing age verification for platforms like social media and gaming. This proposed legislation has been in discussion for over a year and seeks to prevent minors from accessing potentially harmful content. Age verification will be mandatory for new accounts on social media and video-sharing platforms, with similar requirements for AI tools and certain games deemed risky for minors.
Recent developments in age verification have emerged, such as PlayStation’s checks rolled out in the UK and Ireland, requiring users to confirm their age through various methods, including facial scans or ID. Australia also enacted proof-of-age guidelines for Steam, limiting access to R18+ games to users with a valid Australian credit card.
In contrast, the U.S. does not have federal laws mandating age verification for online platforms, though some states have implemented their own regulations, leading to ongoing debates about online privacy and child safety. The situation highlights the balance between protecting minors and ensuring user privacy, especially after incidents that have compromised user data, like Discord’s recent security breach.
Virginia Glaze, News Editor at IGN, elaborates on these developments and their implications for online safety.
