31st Brazilian Symposium on Multimedia and the Web (WebMedia 2025)
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil (10 a 14 de novembro de 2025)
VENCEDOR DE MELHOR ARTIGO WEBMEDIA 2025 NA CATEGORIA ‘TRILHA PRINCIPAL – ARTIGOS COMPLETOS’
Abstract: Given the ease of unsupervised access and growing risks for minors online, safeguarding children’s digital rights is increasingly urgent. As personal data becomes a major economic asset, governments are enforcing stricter age verification rules. This study examines age verification designs on the most used social media platforms by Brazilian children and adolescents. In the first phase, we created test accounts and analyzed the terms of use on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp. In the second, we analyzed responses to a public consultation by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee to identify concerns related to this topic. Findings show that platforms in Brazil mirror those in the EU, with easily bypassed age checks. The results call for a redesign of current mechanisms to ensure safer, more ethical digital experiences for children.
