The first signature is from Erika Stefanilong-time senator of the League and already Minister of Regional Affairs in the Conte 1 government and for the Disability in the Draghi government. Alongside his, in the new bill presented in the Senate there are also those of other party membersas the vice president of the Senate Gian Marco Centinaio. Social media is at the center of the proposal. More specifically the rules for minors’ access to technological platforms.
The text was previewed byAdnkronos news agency which anticipated several steps. The clearest ones concern the minimum age to access the platforms: 14 years old. A threshold which must then be followed by another two years in which access is made only with the approval of the parents. Stefani’s proposal is not the only one to have reached Parliament. There is also Bill 1136 signed by Lavinia Mennunisenator of the Brothers of Italy.
The problem of age verification
This proposal currently raises the threshold for accessing the largest platforms by one year. At least according to European rules. In fact, in 2024 in the European Union the minimum age for access to WhatsApp has been set at 13 years old. Certain. As you can easily imagine, the problem isn’t much define a threshold but enforce it. A commitment that in the proposal signed by Stefani is left to the managers. Again according to Adnkronos previews, it is the managers themselves who have to equip themselves “effective systems aimed at verifying the age of users and receiving the approval of legal guardians”.
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The problem is that at the moment there are no such certain methods, at least in Italy define the age of a user. Instagram itself also explains it, whose access threshold is 13 years old: “Unfortunately, we know that online age verification is complicated and is an issue that many companies in our industry are grappling with. To meet this challenge, we are developing new artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies that can help us keep teens safe.”
Attempts abroad: cases of age verification for pornography
One of the most interesting cases in recent years concerns access to the portals where it is uploaded pornographic material. In several countries, especially in the United States, a verification step has been introduced with tools linked to digital identity. The system effectively screened access to the main sites, but failed to block flows to less exposed sitesTelegram chats or Reddit groups. Certain. With social media it would be different. It’s difficult to find a pirated alternative to Instagram.
