Lithuania to Restrict Children's Access to Social Media

Lithuania is set to implement new regulations aimed at restricting minors' access to social media platforms. Starting in September, platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X will be required to prevent users under the age of 15 from creating new accounts. Existing accounts belonging to minors will also need to be identified and closed within a specified period.

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The main instruments relied upon to implement this ban are age verification systems. Social media operators will have to adapt such measures that allow for sufficiently reliable determination of the user's age. However, this will not be as simple as clicking an age confirmation button, as we see in many places online now. It will likely require account registration to be confirmed with an identity document or through independent intermediaries.

Experts indicate that age verification systems will be the primary tool for enforcing this ban. Social media operators will need to adopt reliable methods for determining user age, moving beyond simple age confirmation buttons. Potential solutions include requiring identity documents during account registration or utilizing independent intermediaries for verification.

One proposed method involves scanning or photographing identity documents to confirm a user's age before allowing account creation. However, this raises privacy and data protection concerns, as it could involve sharing sensitive personal information. A "dual anonymity" model is being considered, where an independent third party, such as a specialized age verification service or a mobile operator, would confirm a user's age without revealing their full identity to the social media platform.

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In such a case, one could try to apply the so-called 'dual anonymity' model, where user data would be checked by an independent third party, e.g., a specialized age verification service provider or a mobile operator. The organization would determine the user's age and confirm that they are eligible to have a social media account. The platform would not know the user's real name, surname, document number, and other data.

Facial analysis technology, using AI to assess age from selfies or short videos, is another option being discussed. While quick and convenient, this method is criticized for its potential inaccuracies and privacy implications. Despite these technological advancements, experts acknowledge that children may still find ways to circumvent age restrictions. The European Commission is reportedly testing a pan-European age verification system that could become a common standard across the EU, balancing child protection with data privacy.

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A significant role in this process can also be played by the European Commission. A European age verification system is currently being tested, which could become a common standard throughout the EU in the future. Under this model, the user would confirm their age once using a digital identity or document, and only information about meeting the age criteria would be transmitted to social networks. This would balance the protection of children and personal data.