Help with verifying my age online

Bowdon
Bowdon Community Member Posts: 19 Connected
in People power

HI all,

I'm having problems verifying my age on some websites that insist on using an age estimation selfie.

Because of my condition I'm wearing a cpap style mask that I wear 24/7 with oxygen on constant supply. I can't take my mask off long enough to take a selfie. Some of the sites ask for multiple angled selfies, despite the fact I've usually uploaded other forms of identification before this point.

The main verification site that does this that I've come across is Yoti. They are used by X, and I believe as been chosen by the government for the digital ID.

They also are used for a popular site that adults use. I had contacted them to ask for them to manually look at a photo of me wearing my mask. But they wouldn't do it. They passed the responsibility to the website. But the website wouldn't do anything either.

For context I'm 48 years old and been online since the early 90s. I've never had any issue like this before.

Is there any advice on what I should do? Or does anyone else experience this?

Comments

  • Ross1975
    Ross1975 Posts: 1,128 Championing
    edited March 23

    I use a Tor browser so I don't have to bother with all the verification malarkey: Tor Project | Download

    There's plenty of guides on Youtube if you're unsure about anything.

  • SheffieldMan1976
    SheffieldMan1976 Posts: 1,685 Connected

    I deleted my X account last year, due to this and also the annoyingly toxic comments, especially around anything Political.

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 3,540 Online Community Team

    Thanks for sharing this @Bowdon. Sorry, I'm not sure how to help but it's good to raise awareness of things like this.

  • Stellar
    Stellar Community Member Posts: 451 Pioneering
    edited March 24

    Twitter is a far right hellsite. Stay off there for your own sanity (and to avoid being radicalised into far right politics, like most British politicians are).

    As for age verification, get a VPN like NordVPN and set your country to one where these verifications don't exist, like the Republic of Ireland.

    Do not give your real face or data to these services, because they will not keep it secure o dispose of it properly, especially outside of Europe. If you need to, use a face of a fictional character liek these people did:

    Discord users 'bypassing age-checks with video game characters'

  • SheffieldMan1976
    SheffieldMan1976 Posts: 1,685 Connected
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1111747#Comment_1111747

    Don't get a VPN, rumour has it the government are in discussions to ban them anyway purely for the very reason you outlined, kids using them to get round age verification on Facebook et al.

  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Community Member Posts: 3,473 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1111770#Comment_1111770

    Nobody can BLOCK VPN's - they can advise residents to stop using them, but if someone has a PC - they can set up a VPN server in five minutes !

    Russia has tried for years to ban VPN's - result millions of VPN users.

  • Bowdon
    Bowdon Community Member Posts: 19 Connected

    I've just heard Yoti seem to also be the choice for the PlayStation age verification.

    They are the ones I've been having problems with. They seem to be the first choice for all the main sites so far. But they always demand a selfie taken at multi angles.

    So, my account will have features disabled because I can't verify, even though I subscribe to the highest tier of PSN, and I'm nearly 50!

    This is text book discrimination. Severely disabled people are being edged out of society. This is the start. Something needs to be done.

  • AveryzSC
    AveryzSC Community Member Posts: 8 Listener

    I would suggest using a VPN, just do research about which ones to use - there are free ones but you will have to look.

    I personally use Mullvad VPN and can vouch for it, low pricing and it's privacy.

    Some websites will let you verify with a credit card such as Steam but I'd be careful who you'd give that information too.

    What websites are you trying to access if you don't mind me asking? There are alternatives to browse posts on X such as XCancel.

  • SheffieldMan1976
    SheffieldMan1976 Posts: 1,685 Connected
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1122314#Comment_1122314

    The government are in discussions to ban VPNs apparently, it's literally unenforceable and people will use them to get round age verification on Faceache et al anyway.

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