Establishing age verification on social media platforms in Ireland is going to be “very tricky to do,” according to Jess Kelly.

On The Hard Shoulder today, the Newstalk tech correspondent said that age verification raises issues of logistics and GDPR for social media companies.

It comes as Education Minister Norma Foley has written to the online safety commissioner calling for a ‘robust’ age verification system on social platforms.

Jess said the current age verification system is untenable.

“The issue is, at this moment in time, if you can do 2024 minus 13, 16, 18, you can set your date of birth to whatever you want it to be so that you’re not getting the kid version of these apps,” she said.

“That is not a robust age verification tool at all and that’s the point Norma Foley is making.”

Norma Foley visits St Matthew’s National School, Sandymount in Dublin in August 2023. Image: Leah Farrell / Photocall Ireland

The tech correspondent said the issue now is “how exactly we introduce age verification”.

“The easiest way would be to submit a copy of your photo ID,” she said.

“If you wanted to sign up to TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, you’d have to scan your passport to verify your age as you do with Revolut accounts.”

Age verification

Jess said this method comes with challenges.

“There’s a whole host of implications that come from having a system like that and the big one is GDPR,” she said.

“What happens to that information when it's stored and how easy is it to doctor images that are getting scanned or uploaded?

“It’s also going to create a bigger, more arduous process on the end of social media platforms as well.”

Tech Correspondent Jess Kelly on Newstalk Breakfast, 25-3-24. Image: Newstalk

Another method could be linking a child’s account to their parents.

“If you want them to have social media, you set it up and it is quite clearly linked to your account,” said Jess.

“Instagram already had elements of this in place, you the parent can associate that child’s account with your account.

“That way you can see if someone is DMing them or commenting on things.”

Trolling

Jess said verified accounts could also help manage online trolling.

“We know people set up social media accounts for various reasons and some do it to stay in touch with friends - but others do it to cause havoc,” she said.

“If there is a database of accounts linked to IDs and someone starts trolling me and I make a complaint, although the username might be anonymous to me, they will instantly find out who you are.”

An estimated 84% of pre-teens in Ireland are using social media.

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Main image: Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok apps on an iPhone. 2021. Picture by: Koshiro K / Alamy Stock Photo