Age Verification: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Age-Verification-Badges.webp|thumb|Profile Markers]] | [[File:Age-Verification-Badges.webp|thumb|Profile Markers]] | ||
'''Age verification''' is a feature announced on November 27, 2024 on the official VRChat | '''Age verification''' is a social feature, originally announced on November 27, 2024 on the official VRChat YouTube channel<ref name=":0">"Introducing Age Verification | Developer Update #vrchat." YouTube, uploaded by VRChat, 27 Nov. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odiNjIFUNvw. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.</ref>. It allows users to verify their age using the third-party service [https://withpersona.com/ Persona]. Users who are verified can display an age verification badge on their profile; for verified users who are the age of 18 and above, can gain access to join age restricted [[instances]]. Age restricted instances can be created, by being granted the proper permissions within a [[Groups|group]]. | ||
The verification process is currently available in early access, for all [[VRC+|VRChat+]] subscribers as of January 28, 2025<ref>VRChat. "Age Verification is now available for VRC+ Subscribers!..." Bluesky, 28 Jan. 2025, https://bsky.app/profile/vrchat.com/post/3lgtoi5ho2227.</ref>. | |||
==Process== | ==Process== | ||
The age verification process is conducted through [https://withpersona.com/ Persona] -- a third-party verification provider, compliant with [[wikipedia:General_Data_Protection_Regulation|GDPR]]<ref>Persona. Security. https://withpersona.com/security. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.</ref>. Users provide a government-issued ID<ref>https://docs.withpersona.com/reference/government-id-verifications Government ID Verifications on ''withpersona.com''; retrieved December 9, 2024.</ref> and use a camera-enabled device, such as a smartphone, or computer with a webcam, to complete the process. A [[VRChat account]] is also required to complete this process. | |||
Just about any form of government identification can be used depending on the country the user is from, such as, but not limited to: | Just about any form of government identification can be used depending on the country the user is from, such as, but not limited to: | ||
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** '''Note:''' Deleting verification data in VRChat will result in the user's account being unusable until they accept the Terms of Service and input their birthdate again. This will also result in verification status being removed from that account unless it is reverified. | ** '''Note:''' Deleting verification data in VRChat will result in the user's account being unusable until they accept the Terms of Service and input their birthdate again. This will also result in verification status being removed from that account unless it is reverified. | ||
* '''One ID Per Account:''' One ID cannot be used to verify multiple accounts. This restriction is intended to enhance trust, and encourage users to place more value in their account, discouraging malicious behavior<ref>Tupper (2024, December 2). ''Age Verification FAQ''. VRChat Forum. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://ask.vrchat.com/t/age-verification-faq/28458#p-58953-can-i-use-the-same-id-to-verify-multiple-accounts-8</ref>. | * '''One ID Per Account:''' One ID cannot be used to verify multiple accounts. This restriction is intended to enhance trust, and encourage users to place more value in their account, discouraging malicious behavior<ref>Tupper (2024, December 2). ''Age Verification FAQ''. VRChat Forum. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://ask.vrchat.com/t/age-verification-faq/28458#p-58953-can-i-use-the-same-id-to-verify-multiple-accounts-8</ref>. | ||
* '''18+ ≠ Sexually Explicit Content:''' 18+ Age verification or age-restricted instances do ''not'' waive the Terms of Service or Community Guidelines | * '''18+ ≠ Sexually Explicit Content:''' 18+ Age verification or age-restricted instances do ''not'' waive the [[Terms of Service]] or [[Community Guidelines]] policy on pornographic content. | ||
** Refer to section 13.2 of the [https://hello.vrchat.com/legal Terms of Service]<ref>VRChat (2024, November 18). ''VRChat Terms of Service''. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://hello.vrchat.com/legal#:~:text=13.2.%20Prohibited%20Conduct</ref> or the [https://hello.vrchat.com/community-guidelines Community Guidelines]<ref>VRChat (2024, August 12). ''VRChat Community Guidelines''. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://hello.vrchat.com/community-guidelines</ref>. | ** Refer to section 13.2 of the [https://hello.vrchat.com/legal Terms of Service]<ref>VRChat (2024, November 18). ''VRChat Terms of Service''. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://hello.vrchat.com/legal#:~:text=13.2.%20Prohibited%20Conduct</ref> or the [https://hello.vrchat.com/community-guidelines Community Guidelines]<ref>VRChat (2024, August 12). ''VRChat Community Guidelines''. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://hello.vrchat.com/community-guidelines</ref>. | ||
== Official resources == | |||
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odiNjIFUNvw Introducing Age Verification] on ''YouTube'' | |||
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzG9IwmM7TI VRChat Age Verification Improvements] on ''YouTube'' | |||
* [https://hello.vrchat.com/blog/age-verification Age Verification Now Available for VRC+ Subscribers] on ''hello.vrchat.com'' | |||
* [https://feedback.vrchat.com/age-verification Age Verification Feedback] on ''feedback.vrchat.com'' | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> |
Revision as of 01:09, 30 January 2025
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Age verification is a social feature, originally announced on November 27, 2024 on the official VRChat YouTube channel[1]. It allows users to verify their age using the third-party service Persona. Users who are verified can display an age verification badge on their profile; for verified users who are the age of 18 and above, can gain access to join age restricted instances. Age restricted instances can be created, by being granted the proper permissions within a group.
The verification process is currently available in early access, for all VRChat+ subscribers as of January 28, 2025[2].
Process
The age verification process is conducted through Persona -- a third-party verification provider, compliant with GDPR[3]. Users provide a government-issued ID[4] and use a camera-enabled device, such as a smartphone, or computer with a webcam, to complete the process. A VRChat account is also required to complete this process.
Just about any form of government identification can be used depending on the country the user is from, such as, but not limited to:
- Drivers License
- Identification Card
- Passport
- Passport Card
- Permanent Residence Card
- Immigration Visa
- Work Permit
Persona processes the user’s identification and biometrics in accordance with its strict privacy policy[5], ensuring GDPR, CCPA, and other compliance standards are met. VRChat does not receive or store personal information from the verification process, except for the user’s verified date of birth. Persona operates under a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with VRChat, which requires Persona to operate under GDPR/CCPA for all users regardless of location[6].
Features
Verified users have the option to display a marker on their profile indicating their age verification status. There are two versions of the marker that a verified user can pick from at any time:
- "Age Verified" which any age verified user can use regardless of age.
- "Verified 18+" which can only be used by users who are age verified and are 18 or older.
The marker can also be hidden completely if a user does not want to make their verification status visible to others. Users who are verified 18+ can always access age-restricted instances, regardless of which verification marker is shown on their profile.
Note: "Age Verified" marker alone does not indicate a user is 18+, only that they have verified their age. Users who are under 18 (but must be at least 13) can verify their age with Persona, but will not be able to choose the Verified 18+ marker on their profile or access age-restricted instances until they have turned 18.
Groups can create 18+ restricted instances, requiring all participants to be age-verified and 18 or older to join. These restrictions can be applied to public, group-only, or group-plus instances.
Age Verification is being considered to function alongside Content Gating to prevent unverified users and verified users under the age of 18 from accessing content tagged with "Sexually suggestive" and "Adult language and themes" however, when or how it will is not currently confirmed[7][8].
Rollout
The feature was originally limited to select groups during a trial period, where only members of selected groups could apply for verification and create age-restricted instances. Future updates would expand access and introduce additional use cases, such as content gating and other feedback collected during the trial[1].
The first rollout begun December 17th 2024, multiple selected groups were given access to age verification for group users.
On January 28th 2025 the feature was rolled out to all VRChat+ subscribers as an Early Access feature. There is currently no confirmed date as to when it will become available to all users.
Additional information
- Verification Requirements: Users must submit an unedited photo of their government ID for it to be accepted as well as complete a "liveliness check" involving a selfie to ensure the person validating is the same as the person who owns the ID[9].
- Optional: Age verification is not mandatory to use VRChat. However, to be able to access age-restricted instances and features a user must verify their age and be 18 or older[10].
- Data Handling: ID data is retained by Persona for the minimum amount of time it takes to verify the user's birthdate and to create a unique one-way cryptographic hash utilizing data from the user's provided ID. This hash is stored on VRChat's servers for that user's account and all ID data is deleted on Persona's end, the irreversible cryptographic hash and user's verified Date of Birth remain on VRChat's servers.[11]
- Note: Deleting verification data in VRChat will result in the user's account being unusable until they accept the Terms of Service and input their birthdate again. This will also result in verification status being removed from that account unless it is reverified.
- One ID Per Account: One ID cannot be used to verify multiple accounts. This restriction is intended to enhance trust, and encourage users to place more value in their account, discouraging malicious behavior[12].
- 18+ ≠ Sexually Explicit Content: 18+ Age verification or age-restricted instances do not waive the Terms of Service or Community Guidelines policy on pornographic content.
- Refer to section 13.2 of the Terms of Service[13] or the Community Guidelines[14].
Official resources
- Introducing Age Verification on YouTube
- VRChat Age Verification Improvements on YouTube
- Age Verification Now Available for VRC+ Subscribers on hello.vrchat.com
- Age Verification Feedback on feedback.vrchat.com
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Introducing Age Verification | Developer Update #vrchat." YouTube, uploaded by VRChat, 27 Nov. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odiNjIFUNvw. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.
- ↑ VRChat. "Age Verification is now available for VRC+ Subscribers!..." Bluesky, 28 Jan. 2025, https://bsky.app/profile/vrchat.com/post/3lgtoi5ho2227.
- ↑ Persona. Security. https://withpersona.com/security. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
- ↑ https://docs.withpersona.com/reference/government-id-verifications Government ID Verifications on withpersona.com; retrieved December 9, 2024.
- ↑ Persona. Privacy Policy. https://withpersona.com/legal/privacy-policy. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.
- ↑ Tupper (2024, December 2). Age Verification FAQ. VRChat Forum. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://ask.vrchat.com/t/age-verification-faq/28458#p-58953-what-if-i-dont-live-in-the-eu-or-california-10
- ↑ Tupper (2024, December 3). Age Verification FAQ. VRChat Forum. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://ask.vrchat.com/t/age-verification-faq/28458#p-58953-when-will-content-gating-be-affected-by-age-verification-39
- ↑ Tupper (2024, December 3). Age Verification FAQ. VRChat Forum. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://ask.vrchat.com/t/age-verification-faq/28458#p-58953-what-other-content-or-systems-will-be-affected-by-age-verification-35
- ↑ Tupper (2024, December 2). Age Verification FAQ. VRChat Forum. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://ask.vrchat.com/t/age-verification-faq/28458#p-58953-what-do-i-need-to-submit-to-verify-my-age-4
- ↑ Tupper (2024, December 2). Age Verification FAQ. VRChat Forum. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://ask.vrchat.com/t/age-verification-faq/28458#p-58953-is-age-verification-mandatory-6
- ↑ https://youtu.be/lzG9IwmM7TI
- ↑ Tupper (2024, December 2). Age Verification FAQ. VRChat Forum. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://ask.vrchat.com/t/age-verification-faq/28458#p-58953-can-i-use-the-same-id-to-verify-multiple-accounts-8
- ↑ VRChat (2024, November 18). VRChat Terms of Service. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://hello.vrchat.com/legal#:~:text=13.2.%20Prohibited%20Conduct
- ↑ VRChat (2024, August 12). VRChat Community Guidelines. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://hello.vrchat.com/community-guidelines