Latest reports have confirmed that WhatsApp is getting ready to implement age verification for users in Europe.
The action comes after the minimum age requirement to use the app was recently lowered to 13 years old in the area.
Whatsapp To Implement Age Verification
User self-declaration is the only method of verification currently in use because there is no built-in system.
WaBetaInfo claims that a new setting asking users to enter their birthdate will be added soon.
The purpose of this data is to verify that users are at least the required age.
The birthdate cannot be changed after it is entered and will remain hidden from other users’ profiles.
This method is similar to Instagram’s 2018 technique, in which users had to enter the year of their birth in order to satisfy the age requirement.
Around 2018, WhatsApp asked users to verify that they were 16 years old using a straightforward checkbox method.
The new measure represents an approach to age verification that is more proactive. It’s unlikely that users who verified their age using the checkbox method—and who are currently at least 22 years old—will have to submit their birthday again.
Reason For Age Verification
This move is the result of two factors: the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) of the European Union, as well as new age verification laws in numerous US states.
Online child safety is given top priority by the DSA and DMA of the European Union.
A vital first step in protecting minors on the network is identifying individuals who are underage.
It’s still unknown when the age verification setting will go into effect exactly and how it will be implemented.
This move toward more stringent age verification is indicative of a larger industry trend that places an emphasis on internet safety and regulatory compliance.
WhatsApp can comply with legal obligations and provide a safer environment for its users, especially younger ones, by putting this system into place.
In addition to helping consumers, this improved method of age verification promotes a more reliable and responsible online community.
