X Implements Age Checking Measures to Align with New Laws

Posted on July 24, 2025
Source: Social Media Today – Latest News by Andrew Hutchinson. Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of X Implements Age Assurance Measures Amid Irish Online Safety Regulations

X has introduced age assurance checks following new Irish online safety laws requiring video-sharing platforms to verify user ages. The approach uses a combination of self-attested data, legacy verification, and AI-driven facial and ID verification. However, many of these methods are seen as insufficient or delayed, raising doubts about full compliance. Regulatory scrutiny and potential fines loom as X balances legal pressure with resistance to stringent age verification.

Optimixed’s Overview: Navigating Age Verification Challenges on X Under Ireland’s Online Safety Code

Context and Regulatory Background

Ireland’s Online Safety Code, effective as of this week, mandates that all video-sharing platforms implement robust age verification systems to protect minors. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X must comply or face substantial fines reaching up to 10% of annual turnover or $23 million USD.

X’s Age Assurance Strategy

  • Multi-step verification: X assesses reliable signals like self-attested age, prior ID verification, legacy verified accounts, and account creation date.
  • Account badges: Grey and gold checkmarks signify official or organizational status, which X uses as part of its age estimation.
  • Email and social graph analysis: Age estimation based on email domain and median age of a user’s contacts.
  • Future implementations: Planned rollout of AI-powered facial age estimation and government ID verification via selfie uploads.

Critical Analysis and Concerns

While X has updated its documentation with these measures, significant concerns remain:

  • Reliability Issues: Legacy verification and account creation date can be easily manipulated or outdated.
  • Badge System Limitations: Paid verification badges do not guarantee accurate age representation.
  • Delay in Implementation: Key AI-driven verification steps are not yet operational despite legal deadlines.
  • Regulatory Acceptance: Irish authorities have expressed skepticism, and X’s approach may not meet the stringent requirements.

Implications and Outlook

X appears to be adopting a strategic, minimal compliance posture—introducing some measures to demonstrate effort while resisting more intrusive verification methods. This approach aligns with X’s broader resistance to regulatory oversight under current leadership but risks legal penalties and reputational damage.

User backlash is also anticipated if more invasive age verification methods are enforced. The coming weeks will be critical as regulators evaluate the effectiveness of X’s measures and decide on enforcement actions.