Social Media Platforms Face Challenges Verifying User Ages

Why it matters locally: Potential federal legislation or platform policy changes regarding age verification could impact how Vermont residents, including minors and adults, access and use social media platforms, affecting digital privacy for all users.

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Social media companies have increased their efforts to determine the ages of their users. This intensified focus on age verification accompanies ongoing legal disputes targeting these platforms. However, current online age verification technologies remain imperfect. These systems also introduce privacy implications. These implications affect not only children, but also adults. Adults may need to provide proof of their age, such as demonstrating they are over 18 years old.