Social Media Age Test FAIL – How Snapchat thought my daughter was older, and Meta might have broken the law

And so it begins, the era of age verification, age assurance if you like and the hit and miss process of using technology to try and estimate the age of kids – something I as a parent couldn’t do at the local kids sports games, so I’m unsure how technology is going to pull it off.

Even the government’s own trial of “Age Assurance” showed wild inaccuracies in estimating the ages of kids. As we reported at the time, that very report states that “Age estimation models tend to be most uncertain at or near the threshold (e.g. distinguishing between a 17.8-year-old and an 18.2-year-old), while accuracy improves as you move away from it. As such, the likelihood of a false decision tends to zero outside a reasonable buffer.”

So imagine my delight when my own Daughter proved this simple point today, on Snapchat.

As a 15 year old, not at all keen to lose access to her friends on Snap, let alone her streaks – she of course just changed her birth-date.

In doing so, and claiming to be a 16 year old, she was then offered the chance to verify her age. Snapchat offers three options:

Of course, we know Government IDs are not something your average 15 year old has, and that would prove her actual age, and ConnectID too is absolutely precise using a bank verification. So, over to the Facial Scan she went.

After a few yawning like motions to the camera, the app went on it’s way to estimating her age.

Oh, ok! Congrats, she’s done.

And Snapchat even apologised for the interruption.

She’s on – and she’s clear.

Snapchat took the “reasonable steps” required under the law, and neither they, nor my daughter or myself as a parent are subject to any fine.

Gets better though. My 14 year old son, who bless him is cute as anything but does NOT at ALL look 16 – did the same thing. And he was also approved. Good to go buddy!

Turn to Meta and on Instagram, Harri was keen to get ongoing access to his account.

So when presented of news of this new law, he chose the “I am 16 or Over” option. Of course, EVERY child is going to click that:)

Because that claim didn’t match with the birth-date Meta had on file, he simply changed it as requested.

What next? A Face Scan? Bank Link?

Nope.

We need some “more info”. Ok, let’s go. Continue.

Wait – what?

The Minister for Communications just hours ago at the Press Conference said this: “You will not be forced to present Government ID to verify your age”

Going on to say clearly that “the Law states platforms must always offer a reasonable alternative to their users, and comapnies caught forcing users to hand over their IDs face fines of up to $49.5 million”

Get out your cheque book Meta – the police are coming.

Now, is there something unique about my son’s account? Maybe? I set it up a decade ago, and when he got access at 13 I put in his actual birth date, and I linked his account to mine for parental controls. So is Meta treating those kids differently? Perhaps.

But for my mind, this is a breach of the law, or at least goes against the intention of the law.

UPDATE: In thinking about it, the LAW doesn’t kick in until December 10, so this move by Meta isn’t technically a breach of the legislation – we’ll wait and see what options they present to kids AFTER the law is in effect.

Who am I to say though.

What we do know is that Facial Scans don’t work. Won’t work, and will cause 17 year olds much angst over the weeks ahead as they get kicked off, and cause plenty of 14 and 15 year olds to jump for joy – how that goes down in the school yard with their other friends being denied access could be more stressful than the harm that comes from social media.

Interesting times continue.