Australian Teen Voices on Age Verification and Age Assurance Measures

Age verification and age assurance technologies, including biometrics, facial recognition software and digital identification, have been explored as potential measures to restrict access of young people to social media and sexually explicit media (SEM), including pornography. However, there is limited data regarding how teens targeted by such restrictions feel about such strategies. Drawing on qualitative interviews with Australian teens and pre-teens (aged 11–17), this paper presents their views of age verification technologies, particularly in relation to restricting access to SEM. The participants in this study welcomed improved online protections but were ambivalent about proposed solutions. Age assurance and age verification technologies were considered cumbersome, easily circumvented and raised privacy concerns. Teens believed that ‘maturity’ may be a better measure for ‘readiness’ for content than age, and felt restrictions render content more enticing. Participants were concerned about curtailment of their rights to seek information but acknowledged that restrictions could be appropriate for younger children. Young people will inevitably encounter SEM at some stage and as such, prefer educational approaches where they can be prepared for what they may see online rather than blanket restrictions. Teens also support holding the industry providers of pornographic content to higher ethical standards.