Why Age-Gating for Teens Will Likely Not Work: Understanding The Workarounds That Teens Use
- The White Hatter
- Oct 18, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: May 8
As parents and caregivers, it's natural to want to protect our teens from the potential harms of technology and social media. Concerns about cyberbullying, privacy breaches, access to inappropriate material, and mental health effects have sparked discussions about stricter age restrictions on all social media and internet platforms. Some countries have even attempted to impose these age-verification methods. For example, France conducted a 2022 trial restricting social media use for individuals under 15. However, this trial revealed something important - many teens, including the younger ones, are far more tech-savvy than we give them credit for, and age-gating access might not be as straightforward as it seems.
One of the key takeaways from the French trial was that nearly half of the country’s teens used VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to sidestep age restrictions. This insight demonstrates that these attempts at control often push teens to seek loopholes. VPNs are tools that allow users to mask their location and browse anonymously, and they’ve become popular among teens looking to access restricted content.
For example, when YouTube implemented EU age-verification protocols in 2021, a developer quickly created software available on the open-source website Github to bypass these checks. (1) This software has been downloaded millions of times, showing that despite increased restrictions, tech solutions are readily accessible.
Teens can also bypass restrictions on platforms which offer minor access to certain content if supervised by an adult. In many cases, older teens can set up shared accounts that allow them to bypass these checks without active supervision. Platforms that require credit card verification as a form of age verification can often be bypassed by using prepaid cards, which don’t require the buyer to be over a certain age.
When new restrictions are introduced, VPN providers see a noticeable increase in users. (2) Teens are not only aware of these tools - they know how to use them effectively. A quick online search or YouTube tutorial gives them all the information they need to evade content blocks or bypass school filters.
Teens have shared with us that they frequently use a VPN to access sites for school projects that are often blocked by a school’s Wi-Fi. While they acknowledge the downsides of excessive social media use, many teens also don’t believe banning it will work. Many teens that we speak to feel that outright age restrictions don’t tackle the underlying problematic reasons for the overuse of these platforms.
We have now heard some groups call for “on device age-gating” rather than leaving it up to the social media and internet providers to do so. However, teens often find creative ways to bypass device restrictions, one of the simplest being the use of another device. They may borrow a friend’s or family member’s phone or tablet that doesn't have the same restrictions as their own, allowing them to access apps, games, or websites that are otherwise blocked. Some teens even go a step further by using burner phones – an older phone that they usually find around the house that a parent or caregiver has forgotten or get one from a friend at school.
While age-gating social media may seem like a quick fix, it often doesn’t address the root cause of why teens are drawn to these platforms. Adolescence is a time of exploration, connection, and self-discovery – these are needs that social media can often fulfill. When teens are told they can’t have access, many become more determined to find ways around those restrictions.
Importantly, this desire to bypass age-restrictions can lead to more secretive behavior, which in turn makes it harder for parents to monitor and guide their teens toward healthy online habits. VPNs and other methods of bypassing restrictions can also expose teens to greater risks like malware, malicious websites, or interactions with online predators. Instead of just restricting access, it’s vital that parents maintain open communication and educate their teens on the risks of social media and the internet – this is why digital literacy education is so important.
So, what can parents and caregivers do if age-gating social media isn’t the solution? The answer lies in education and fostering ongoing conversations. Here’s how you can take a balanced approach, something that we like to call - “Redirect, and Pave The Way”:
Help your teen recognize harmful content, manipulation tactics, and the impact of algorithms. These skills empower them to make informed decisions about their online activity.
Support your teen in finding a balance between online and offline activities. Encourage social media breaks, physical activity, and face-to-face interactions with friends.
Ensure your teen understands how VPNs work and the risks they come with. While VPNs can offer more privacy, they can also lead teens to riskier online spaces. (3)
Create an environment where your teen feels comfortable sharing their online experiences. Instead of imposing strict rules, work with them to develop reasonable boundaries that suit your family.
Understand that it’s impossible to block every access point to the internet. Instead, focus on helping your teen safely navigate the digital world.
As much as we want to shield our teens from the potential pitfalls of social media, blanket bans or age-gating restrictions aren’t the answer – really they are nothing more than a Nirvana Fallacy inn today’s onlife world. Teens are often resourceful enough to find ways around these rules, whether through VPNs or other workarounds. Instead of relying solely on age-gating restrictions, parents and caregivers should focus on educating their teens, fostering critical thinking, and maintaining open dialogue through digital literacy education. By equipping youth and teens with the tools to navigate the onlife world safely, we can better prepare them for a future where technology plays an increasingly important role in their everyday lives.
Should social media platforms be building larger fences to make it harder for youth to access content in violation of their terms of service - YES! However, understand sometimes fences don't work as psychologist Jocelyn Brewer writes about in her blog (4)
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The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
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