On behalf of the Austrian Chamber of Labour, the Institute for Technology Assessment (ITA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences has analysed different options for age verification on the internet – for many an essential prerequisite for protecting children and young people from violent, sexualised and other harmful content.

General bans have consequences

The link between excessive use of social media and the well-being of children and young people is becoming increasingly clear. However, according to ITA-scientist Fabian Fischer, main author of the study, there are still many open questions that need to be evaluated before a nationwide ban could come into effect: “Many age verification methods process and store highly sensitive data such as our faces, ID cards or online behaviour. This creates new risks to which young people in particular are exposed.”

So-called data-minimising methods at the EU level are still under development: "This would mean that it would be sufficient to simply state that someone is over 14 years of age – no further information would be necessary." From the expert's point of view, such solutions are clearly advantageous, but they usually require the possession of a smartphone.

Which platforms would be included in a ban?

In case of technical readiness, which applications should actually be affected by a social media ban? "What about chatbots, WhatsApp groups and communication forums in games? These are also used by minors, but are not necessarily defined as social media. Add to that the fact that young people in particular are known as early adopters. They try out new platforms very quickly," says Anna Pauls, another ITA expert who worked on the project.

Journeying into to lesser-known platforms could also entail high risks for kids, the study authors add. New dependencies, for example on older people who could help young people access blocked content, are but one example. A social media ban could also significantly restrict young people's rights to information and social participation. People who are close to voting age, which in Austria is 16, could be affected by a restricted access to information.

Combining a social media ban with public discourse

Fischer states that age verification on the internet can make sense, however, he would like to see a broad social debate on this topic: "How easily can certain methods be tricked or circumvented? How can children be better educated about the risks of the internet so that they can use it in a self-determined way? What are the undesirable effects of transmitting this data? And how can platforms be persuaded to implement existing law? All of these issues should not be ignored." According to the authors, it is important to consider the possibility that, despite supporting far-reaching limitations for all internet users, the goal of better protection for minors could not be achieved.