For a species that claims to be the smartest ever, human beings actually have a pretty dismal record at not making mistakes. This particular dynamic has already been reinforced quite a few times throughout our history, with each testimony forcing us to look for a defensive cover. We will, however, go on to solve our conundrum in the most fitting fashion, and we’ll do so by bringing dedicated regulatory bodies into the fold. Having a well-defined authority across each and every area was a game changer, as it instantly gave us a safety cushion against our many shortcomings. Now, the kind of utopia you would generally expect from such a development did arrive, but at the same time, it notably failed to stick around for long. Talk about what led to the stated setback, the answer will literally include technology before it covers anything else. You see, the moment technology got its layered nature to take over the scene, it allowed every individual an unprecedented chance to exploit others for their own benefit. In case this somehow didn’t sound bad enough, the whole runner soon began to materialize on such a massive that it expectantly overwhelmed our governing and sent them back to square one. After a lengthy spell in the middle of nowhere, though, it seems like the regulatory contingent is finally ready to make a comeback. The same has turned more and more evident over the recent past, and truth be told, Meta’s latest move will only solidify its traces moving forward.
Meta is officially set to bring age verification technology to another one of its products in Facebook Dating. In order to achieve this goal, the social media behemoth is also expected to deepen ties with online age verification provider, Yoti, a company that does a similar job for Facebook and Instagram. But how will the whole operation work? Well, there are essentially two ways to verify your age. Firstly, you can record a video selfie and upload it on the platform. Once you do so, a still image from the video will be shared with Yoti, who will then assess the user’s facial features to determine their age. Here, the image is immediately deleted following the verification, but things are a little different in the second method. Going by the available details, the other method talks to the user uploading their ID on Facebook, where it’s encrypted and then stored. While you can manage how long your ID is saved, the company’s help center indicates that it might keep the relevant documentation for upto one year.
According to Meta, the age verification tools in question here have already made a huge impact on its other products. To give you concrete numbers, the company found that, on Instagram, approximately four times as many people were likely to complete their age verification requirements when attempting to edit their date of birth to be over 18. This would help the platform big time in bringing “hundreds of thousands” accounts to their relevant age groups, and therefore, create a safer experience.
“We’re committed to making sure people have age-appropriate experiences across our technologies, and as part of this work, we’ve been testing age verification tools and using age detection technology to stop people under the age of 18 from accessing experiences meant for adults,” the company stated.
