Key Takeaways:
- TikTok is rolling out new age-verification technology across the EU to identify and remove accounts belonging to children under 13.
- The system analyzes profile information, posted videos, and behavioral signals to predict whether an account may belong to a user under 13.
- The UK is considering a social media ban for under-16s, following Australia’s implementation of a similar ban in December.
- European authorities are scrutinizing how platforms verify users’ ages under data protection rules.
- The European parliament is pushing for age limits on social media, while Denmark wants to ban social media for those under 15.
Introduction to Age-Verification Technology
TikTok, a popular social media platform owned by ByteDance, is set to roll out new age-verification technology across the European Union in the coming weeks. This move comes as calls for a social media ban for under-16s grow in countries including the UK. The new system, which has been piloted in the EU over the past year, analyzes profile information, posted videos, and behavioral signals to predict whether an account may belong to a user under the age of 13. This technology is designed to help identify and remove accounts belonging to children, who are not supposed to be using the platform according to TikTok’s terms of service.
Pressure on Social Media Platforms
TikTok and other major platforms popular with young people, such as YouTube, are coming under increasing pressure to better identify and remove accounts belonging to children. This pressure is not limited to the EU, as countries such as Australia have already implemented social media bans for people under the age of 16. In December, Australia removed over 4.7 million accounts across 10 platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snap, and Facebook, since the ban was implemented on December 10. The UK is also considering a similar ban, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressing concerns about the amount of time children and teenagers spend on their smartphones and the potential harm social media can cause to under-16s.
Age-Verification Systems
The new TikTok system is not the only age-verification technology being used by social media platforms. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, uses the verification company Yoti to verify users’ ages on Facebook. The effectiveness of these systems is still being tested, and it remains to be seen how well they can identify and remove accounts belonging to children. However, the use of age-verification technology is a step in the right direction, as it acknowledges the need to protect children from the potential harms of social media.
Regulatory Scrutiny
The rollout of the new TikTok system comes as European authorities scrutinize how platforms verify users’ ages under data protection rules. The European parliament is pushing for age limits on social media, while Denmark wants to ban social media for those under 15. The regulatory environment is becoming increasingly complex, and social media platforms must navigate these rules to ensure compliance. TikTok has worked with Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, its lead EU privacy regulator, to develop the new system, which is specifically designed to comply with the EU’s regulatory requirements.
Calls for Social Media Bans
The debate around social media bans for young people is ongoing, with some arguing that it is necessary to protect children from the potential harms of social media. Ellen Roome, whose 14-year-old son died after an online challenge went wrong, has called for more rights for parents to access social media accounts of their children if they die. Others, such as Keir Starmer, have previously opposed social media bans, believing they would be difficult to police and could push teenagers towards the dark web. However, as concerns about social media’s impact on children grow, it is likely that we will see more calls for social media bans or age limits in the future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the rollout of TikTok’s new age-verification technology is a significant step towards protecting children from the potential harms of social media. While the system is not foolproof, it acknowledges the need to identify and remove accounts belonging to children. As regulatory scrutiny increases and calls for social media bans grow, it is likely that we will see more social media platforms implementing age-verification technology in the future. Ultimately, the goal is to create a safer online environment for children, and age-verification technology is an important part of achieving this goal.
