Indicating another need for a robust verification system, Meta is expanding their face ID system requirements to access Facebook Dating features. It comes amid reports of more and more underage users accessing the sister dating features on the platform and amongst worries of online predators using social media to contact these youngsters.
As per Meta: “We require people to be at least 18 years old in order to sign up for and access Facebook Dating and age verification tools will help verify that only adults are using the service and help prevent minors from accessing it.”
The age verification tools Meta uses are provided by Yoti and include but are not limited to face ID control. Yoti uses a huge dataset of anonymous images of a diverse range of people from around the globe to accurately estimate the age of a user.
Meta continued: “Since we began testing new age verification tools on Instagram in June, we’ve found that approximately four times as many people were more likely to complete our age verification requirements (when attempting to edit their date of birth from under 18 to over 18), equating to hundreds of thousands of people being placed in experiences appropriate for their age.”
Age restrictions on platforms are always a help to marketers, who therefore cannot be accused of marketing inappropriate products or content, like iGaming and alcohol, to children when advertising on the platform.
