How Kids Get Around Age Verification in the Era of AI

Between 22% and 47% of kids use a fake age on social media. Although platforms like Instagram and YouTube now use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help with age verification, kids are leveraging that same technology to bypass age gates.

This article explains the ways kids bypass age verification on YouTube, social media, and other online spaces. It also covers the risks to kids from faking their age on social media and strategies for parents to keep kids safe.   

How do kids bypass social media age verification? 

Children are resourceful creatures, and their strategies for bypassing age verification range from straightforward to straight-up inventive. 

1. Lying about their birth date

A startling number of platforms require nothing more than a user-provided date of birth. At BrightCanary, we review a lot of social media apps, and one thing we always assess is the strength of the age verification system. Flimsy measures like self-reported age practically invite children to lie about their age to gain access. 

2. Using video game characters 

If an app asks for a live selfie to verify age, some users snap a pic of a video game character. Games with hyper-realistic characters, like those from GTA V or The Last of Us, are popular choices, but so are less realistic games that allow users to pose characters and control their facial expressions. 

3. Submitting photos of actors 

Similar to the video game strategy, some kids take a picture of an actor on screen to submit for age verification, essentially using a celebrity face to pass as an adult.

4. Leveraging AI tools

Another way kids fool AI systems designed to verify age is by using AI. This can be with deepfakes of real people, generative AI images, or age progression apps like FaceApp. 

What happens when kids fake their age on social media

Here are some of the risks kids face when they falsify their age online:

• Exposure to inappropriate material. When kids pretend to be older, they lose access to content filters. That means they can easily encounter explicit videos, mature themes, or harmful challenges. 
• Contact with predators. Instagram teen accounts restrict direct messages to people the user is already connected with. A fake age allows predatory adults to contact them. Additionally, kids who falsify their age to join adult platforms risk being exposed to predators.   
• Skewed algorithms. Social media and YouTube algorithms rely partially on demographic information such as age when recommending content. If a child pretends to be older than they are, they may be fed content intended for older users. 

How can I check if my child is faking their age online?

Take these important steps today to protect your child: 

1. Require permission to download apps

Both Apple and Android devices allow you to require permission for your child to download apps. This helps you stay in the loop about what platforms they're on so you can check to see if they’re using a fake age. 

2. Check their settings

Peek at your child’s app settings to see what age they’ve entered. You can find this in their profile or “About” section on most platforms.

3. Look at their profile. 

How your child presents themselves online can give you clues as to whether they’re pretending to be older than they actually are. Is their bio or posted content more mature than you’d expect for their age? That’s a red flag.

4. Use a monitoring app 

BrightCanary shows you which apps your child uses and what they’re typing, so you can detect potential age-faking or unsafe interactions early. And if your child is using apps you didn’t know about, you’ll be able to see them in the BrightCanary dashboard. 

How to talk to your child about faking their age online

Talking to your child about the importance of not faking their age online is a vital component of keeping them safe. Here are some tips to get you started:

Assume good intent

Partnering with your child is the most effective way to keep them safe online. When you discuss the importance of not faking their age, embrace this team mentality and assume their intentions are good. 

If you’re being proactive in bringing up the issue, be clear that it’s not that you don’t trust them; you’re simply trying to help them make good decisions. If you’ve already discovered they lied about their age, start by asking them why they made that choice and be clear that your goal is not punishment — it’s protection. 

Educate them on the risks 

Explain the dangers of falsifying their age online. When they bypass age verifications, most kids don’t realize the potential consequences. Arming them with this information can help them make safer choices for themselves. 

Foster open communication

Rather than a “one-and-done” approach, make online safety an ongoing conversation. If it’s a common, casual conversation topic, your child is more likely to be open with you about their behavior and to come to you if they misstep. 

In short

A large percentage of kids report lying about their age on YouTube and social media. As platforms use AI to increase their age-verification measures, kids are finding creative ways to bypass the new systems. Faking their age online exposes kids to a variety of risks. Parents need to take a proactive approach to monitoring their child online to ensure they aren’t lying about their age. 

BrightCanary helps you monitor your child’s activity online. Download today to get started for free.