WhatsApp reveals how it will stop under-16s from using the app – could YOUR kid get around it?
WHATSAPP's let slip how it plans to keep under-16s off its chat app, and getting around the preventative measure should be child's play.
The Facebook-owned firm caused a stir when it announced it was blocking 13 t0 15-year-olds from accessing its service ahead of upcoming EU privacy laws partially aimed at curtailing the amount of data social networks can collect on children.
But circumventing the new policy will be as easy as tapping a button, judging by new screenshots unearthed by WhatsApp news site WABetaInfo.
All a youngster has to do is select "agree" on the app's new terms of service notification – WhatsApp in't even asking teens to input their age.
“If you live in a country in the European Region (EU), you must be at least 16 years old to use our Services or such greater age required in your country to register for or use our Services,” outlines WhatsApp in its updated Terms of Service policy.
“In addition to being of the minimum required age to use our Services under applicable law, if you are not old enough to have authority to agree to our Terms in your country, your parent or guardian must agree to our Terms on your behalf.”
Recent studies have found that few social media users read the terms and conditions when signing up for a service.
Meanwhile data suggests that a whopping 78% of under-13s have signed up to use a social network despite not being old enough.
Therefore it's unlikely that WhatsApp's flimsy new policy will act as much of a deterrence to younger users.
The change was announced ahead of the EU's implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation on May 25.
Toni Vitale, head of regulation, data and information at law firm Winckworth Sherwood, told The Sun that WhatsApp's decision reflects the dilemma facing all social networks trying to adhere to the sweeping new privacy laws.
“The GDPR imposes the same rules across the EU but one of the few areas where countries are allowed to tweak the laws locally is the age from which children’s consent to process data is valid," said Vitale.
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"The GDPR sets the age at 16 but allows countries to change this to any age between 12 – 16.
"In the UK we have chosen 13 to reflect the age most social media services allow children to open an account. If a UK child is under 13 a parent would have to agree to their data being processed.
"Many countries...have chosen a different age under the GDPR. For example, in France, the age of consent for GDPR will be 16 and in the Czech Republic, as in the UK, the age will be 13."
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