WHATSAPP’S NEW RULE

ENTER YOUR BIRTHDATE TO CONTINUE CHATTING ON WHATSAPP’S    

WhatsApp, the popular messaging platform, is reportedly preparing to introduce age verification for users in Europe. This move comes as the minimum age requirement for using the app in the region recently decreased to 13 years old from 16 years. Currently, there’s no built-in verification system, relying solely on user self-declaration.

According to reports available, the platform will soon include a new setting prompting users to enter their date of birth. This information will be used to confirm that they meet the minimum age threshold. Importantly, the birthdate will be hidden from other users’ profiles and cannot be modified once entered. While WhatsApp previously requested users to confirm being 16 years old through a simple checkbox system (circa 2018), this new measure signifies a more proactive approach towards age verification. It’s likely that users who confirmed their age through the checkbox method (currently at least 22 years old) won’t need to re-enter their birthdate. Following is given in the term and policies of the WhatsApp:-

About minimum age to use WhatsApp

You must be at least 13 years old (or such greater age required in your country) to register for and use WhatsApp.

Please refer to our Terms of Service for more information.

Note:

Creating an account with false information is a violation of our Terms.

Registering an account on behalf of someone who is underage is also a violation of our Terms.

Keeping users safe and secure

We provide a range of tools, features, and resources to keep users safe. For example, we ensure people can’t search for your phone number on WhatsApp, and a user can:

Choose who can contact you

Control who can add you to group chats

Hide your personal information like your last seen and online, profile photo, and about

Leave group chats silently

You can learn more about privacy and safety information for teen users on WhatsApp here.

Reporting an underage child

If your underage child created a WhatsApp account, you can show them how to delete their account. You can learn how to delete an account in our Help Center.

If you'd like to report an account belonging to someone underage, please send us an email. In your email, please provide the following documentation and redact or hide any unrelated personal information:

Proof of ownership of the WhatsApp number (e.g., copy of government-issued identification card and phone bill with the same name)

Proof of parental authority (e.g., copy of birth or adoption certificate for the underage child)

Proof of child's date of birth (e.g., copy of birth or adoption certificate for the underage child)

We'll promptly disable the WhatsApp account if it's reasonably verifiable that the account belongs to the underage child. You won't receive confirmation of this action. Our ability to review and take appropriate action on a report significantly improves with the completeness of the information requested above.

If the reported child’s account isn't reasonably verifiable as belonging to an underage user, then we may not be able to take action on the account. In this case, if you're not the parent of this child, then we strongly recommend that you encourage a parent to contact us using the instructions above. 

While the current minimum age for WhatsApp usage in Europe is 13, Meta, the platform’s parent company, lacks a definitive way to verify a user’s age. The upcoming age verification setting aims to address this gap. However, the exact rollout date and specific implementation details remain unclear. The impetus for this change is likely twofold. Firstly, new age verification legislation is emerging in several US states. Secondly, the EU’s recently enacted Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) prioritize protecting minors online. Identifying underage users on the platform is a crucial first step towards achieving this goal. This approach mirrors Instagram’s strategy in 2018, where users were required to enter their birth year to ensure they met the age requirement.

This refined approach to age verification not only benefits users but also fosters a more trustworthy and responsible online ecosystem. This shift towards stricter age verification reflects a broader industry trend towards prioritizing online safety and complying with evolving regulations. By implementing this system, WhatsApp can ensure a safer environment for its users. Particularly younger ones, while aligning itself with legal requirements around the world.