Students have many restrictions on what they can do compared to adults. For instance, they often must be over a certain age to perform tasks such as driving or working. Restrictions are made to prevent inexperienced people from handling complex tasks. However, hindering access to online features is more controversial due to AI verification systems in social media apps, particularly YouTube and TikTok. Students and teachers have had varying opinions on the new restrictions, even if it has not affected them.
On YouTube and generally on other platforms, content with profanity, mature themes, violence, suggestive material, or hazardous actions is restricted, according to Google Support. To prevent underage people from accessing the content, social media apps like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have begun using AI age verification, a type of authenticator that uses AI to estimate a person’s age through the type of content they view. CNN explains that a user determined to be under a certain age can have their account restricted, unless they can verify it using legal identification, like IDs or driver’s licenses. For instance, if TikTok’s AI concludes that a user is under 13, regardless of the birthday on the account, it will place child restrictions on the app, according to SoapCentral. Most students at HAHS are over 13, with a minority being 18 or older. However, one potential issue that could affect students and even teachers is faulty age verification that creates hurdles to viewing content.
There are varying opinions on age restrictions for accessing media. Sophomore Jaylianey Ortiz explained that she got banned for being under the 16-year age limit on TikTok. Granted, she was below the limit, so she is now unable to send messages. Despite being affected by verification tools, she believes they can be useful for making sure people are above a certain age and responsible enough. Others are skeptical about specific requirements for authenticating one’s age. Science teacher Mr. Brown voiced concerns over stricter verification that requires showing one’s ID or credit card. He questions the safety of providing identifiable information to apps and wonders how the sensitive information would be handled. Moreover, he views the system as companies putting the burden on the users instead of solving the underlying problem of unrestricted access.
Age verification creates a challenge for those who want to provide access to content but protect younger users who may not fully understand the risks of being online. While methods are already in place, many have flaws that can be abused. Still, the questions of whether verification should affect older people and the extent are debatable, dividing the opinion of both students and teachers.
For more information, visit https://www.cnn.com/, https://www.soapcentral.com/, and https://support.google.com/.
