What Is Age Verification Tech, And What Does It Look Like In 2025?

Age assurance technology, or age verification tech, is becoming a topic of conversation in the tech world.

This concept deals with confirming a person’s age before granting access to online platforms. It is used to keep minors away from harmful material and give services a more certain way to check if someone meets the required age. Families often consider it helpful because it can reduce how much they must watch a child’s digital activities. Officials also say it meets rules linked to age-based restrictions.

In common settings, these tools see if someone is old enough for a site or app. Checks might ask if the user is older than 13, 16, or 18, depending on the platform’s rules. The information gathered can range from a basic birthdate to a biometric scan. The main concern is to guard young users while respecting privacy.

Groups calling for child safety online have urged more services to examine these checks. Lawmakers have created new directives that press digital platforms to confirm ages. This has led to conversations about children’s rights, teen access, and making sure those without formal ID are not blocked.

There are worries about misuse of personal data. Some parents and children fear hacking or identity theft. Specialists suggest limiting how long data stays on file and explaining the process. Consumer advocates note that transparent language and outside oversight of these checks can improve trust.

 

How Does It Work?

 

A number of platforms stick to a box that asks for a date of birth. That is easy to fake, so it rarely fits websites that host content meant for adults. Others prefer stronger ID-based methods, prompting users to scan a passport or driver’s licence. That method brings higher certainty but can exclude those who have no formal IDs.

Certain providers assess user patterns or use AI to detect if an account seems underage. This can involve scanning profile photos or spotting mature words in messages. It might speed things up, but it poses questions for children who learn differently or have special needs.

Another system involves a parent or guardian confirming a younger user. An adult logs in to verify the child’s details. That can help those under 13, but teens often dislike giving parents too much control.

In every instance, privacy is essential. Children’s data must be handled carefully, and personal records should not remain for long. Many campaigners say families will be more open to these checks if they know why data is collected and how soon it is erased.

 

What Methods Are Common?

 

Self-declaration is seen often. Platforms simply request a user’s birthdate. It is quick and has minimal data risk, though children can easily enter a false date, so it does not suit places that need strict 18+ safeguards.

ID checks, such as adding passport or credit card scans, deliver added reliability. They can lock out minors who have no official paperwork, though. Adults often worry about saving payment details. Because of this, families might avoid services that insist on rigid ID gates.

Biometric scans, like live selfies, are on the rise. A quick image can approximate whether someone is old enough for a certain age bracket, without tying it to a name. Research shows glitches with darker skin tones or uncommon facial outlines, so many tools keep updating.

Profiling is another avenue. A user’s posts, watch habits, or typing style might indicate if they are an adult or minor. It cuts out an extra stage at sign-up, but might misread a younger child who acts older or a teen with slower reading skills.
 

 

What Are The New Laws On Age Verification?

 
From 25 July 2025, UK-based users must prove they are over 18 to access adult content online. This follows the introduction of the Online Safety Act, which puts legal duties on platforms to protect children from harmful material. The media regulator, Ofcom, now expects services to carry out strict age checks on users.

The law comes in response to research from Ofcom showing that 8% of children aged 8 to 14 accessed online adult content in a single month. Around 3% of 8 to 9 year olds also viewed such content. Boys aged 13 to 14 were the most likely to do so. With older teens added, the true number of under 18s who see adult content is higher. Ofcom’s figures show that 80% of UK adults support these checks to help prevent young people from coming across explicit content.

These rules apply not just to adult sites, but also to platforms that host other harmful material, including content related to self-harm, suicide and eating disorders. Ofcom has said it will not police individual pieces of content, nor block legal adult material, but the tick-box method of confirming age is no longer allowed.
 

How Will Platforms Check Someone’s Age?

 
Ofcom has set out some approved methods. These include using facial age estimation, where a system analyses a photo or video to estimate someone’s age. Other options involve bank data, credit cards, mobile phone filters or official ID documents.

In some cases, a third party, known as an intermediary, carries out the check. The user proves their age once, then uses a credential or digital proof across different platforms. This avoids giving the same personal data repeatedly. But privacy questions remain about how platforms confirm the same person is using that credential each time.

Photo-ID matching and bank details are more direct and obvious, but these options make people question about surveillance and tracking. Many users feel uneasy about giving such personal data to websites, especially adult content ones. Even when sites claim to delete this data, privacy groups warn that just collecting it increases the risk of leaks or cybercrime.
 

What Are The Risks Of These New Systems?

 
Each way of checking age online comes with a risk to personal privacy, even if it intends to help protect children. For example, estimating someone’s age based on their email activity may seem less intrusive. But it highlights how everyday data like insurance purchases or energy bills can be used to track people online.

Face-based estimation tools have also been criticised.. Like supermarket staff guessing someone’s age when selling alcohol, these tools often make mistakes. People who look younger than they are may be wrongly blocked, while others get through unfairly.

Digital identity wallets may seem like a good solution, but they come with linkability risks. Over time, credentials could be used to track someone’s visits to different websites, creating detailed profiles of their behaviour. Even if their name is not attached, these records grow more personal with repeated use.
 

What Do Experts See For The Future Of Age Assurance Tech?

 

Experts believe users should find a way to correct the system’s mistakes. Care for minors and fair access remain the shared priority. Here are some insights they’ve shared:

 

Komninos Chatzipapas, Founder, HeraHaven AI said:

 

“Besides Australia, Florida also introduced a bill effective next year that will require age verification for adult websites. Companies like Aylo have declared they will stop serving customers in FL for that reason.

“I personally remain very bullish on age assurance tech. There are two main ways this works right now. Either a face scan that is able to give a rough estimate of age, or a driver’s license scan that can get the exact number.

“Face scanning solutions will get more and more accurate in 2025, but I definitely do not believe they’ll be at a point to pinpoint a user’s exact age, so I would caution against using those to comply with regulatory requirements.

“There are also emerging fintech solutions that are able to verify a user’s age based on their debit or credit card information. These solutions work very well for websites where users have to pay to access, but more financial institutions will need to be onboarded to ensure widespread support. They provide a the best experience for users as the age verification happens behind the scenes.

“I also believe we’ll start seeing “passport apps.” Where users can verify their age using their driver’s license once, and then use said apps to confirm their age on each individual website they visit. We’ll see that happen if more regulatory bodies around the world start requiring age verification, as it would become very annoying for users to have to do a driver’s license scan on each website they visit.”

 

Missy Clements, Client Services Director, 7DOTS said:

 

“As a parent working in digital, Australia’s proposed social media ban for under-16s really hits home. We naturally want to protect children from online risks, however digital platforms can also fuel creativity and curiosity. Online spaces, when safely managed, can be powerful extensions of kids’ worlds, helping them learn, connect, and create.

“Age assurance technology has the potential to strike a balance between protecting children and enabling responsible digital experiences. We are now seeing more proactive moves from tech platforms like Meta, with Instagram tightening restrictions on teen use with more built in protections and parental supervision features.

“Instead of blanket bans, a smarter way would be focusing on safety standards, ensuring platforms better police harmful content and helping families navigate the digital world together. Early digital literacy would empower children (and parents) to manage online risks more confidently.”