Social Media Platforms Face Challenges Verifying User Ages

Why it matters locally: While not unique to West Virginia, the ongoing national discussion around social media age verification and its privacy implications directly affects users across the state, including children and adults who utilize these platforms.

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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.