WhatsApp says users must be 16 or older to access the app in Europe...

[atcoates]

https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/24/17277022/whatsapp-age-limit-access-app-europe

[mikeprice]

Yup - wonderful

 

but totally pointless unless they actually do something about checking

 

'cos - you know - kids can lie

either that or the primary school I used to work at had a large number of over 13's in year 5 and 6

[atcoates]

Yes it's ridiculous like all these things. Easily bypassed by changing your DOB. We all need some sort of verified digital passport. You should only sign up for these services with one! Unless something like this gets introduced it's all just a waste of time and children will still be exposed to content they should not be seeing!

[nicholab]

This is slightly annoying as it mean that my Nephew cant now be on the family what's app group. This was an important channel of communication as he does not live locally.

[hardtailstar]

Lots of parents complaining about this as they have family groups etc

 

It'll be annoying for me as I use it for a group message for my Explorers if they do manage a way to block under 16s using it, it means myself and probably thousands of others will have to use another service.

[atcoates]

Lots of parents complaining about this as they have family groups etc

 

It'll be annoying for me as I use it for a group message for my Explorers if they do manage a way to block under 16s using it, it means myself and probably thousands of others will have to use another service.

Yes all this will do is push unders 16s to use less secure services that are even more open to abuse!

[enjay]

We all need some sort of verified digital passport. You should only sign up for these services with one!

 

Like the national ID card database, you mean? Except global, of course. I'm not sure who would/could operate such a thing, and I'm also not sure I'd trust my details to it!

[atcoates]

Like the national ID card database, you mean? Except global, of course. I'm not sure who would/could operate such a thing, and I'm also not sure I'd trust my details to it!

I think as a parent I'd have no problem signing up if it meant my children used a service where everyone there was a real person and answerable to their actions.

[enjay]

I think as a parent I'd have no problem signing up if it meant my children used a service where everyone there was a real person and answerable to their actions.

 

And you'd be okay with that system being provided by the likes of Facebook, Google, Tesco or Capita? I'm not sure which other companies, in this country anyway, would be capable of providing such a thing. Sounds like an identity-thief's Christmasses and birthdays all rolled in to one.

[atcoates]

The government already hold the info for my real passport, driving licence, pension etc. They wouldn't be getting any more info would they?

[enjay]

The government already hold the info for my real passport, driving licence, pension etc. They wouldn't be getting any more info would they?

 

No, but they'd be keeping it all in one place. At present, that information is scattered across multiple systems.