‼️ Social Media Bans for Teens Risk Triggering a Privacy Crisis

The platforms subject to these restrictions currently operate as aggressive ecosystems for data harvesting.

The restrictions are slated to take effect in the spring of 2027, alongside the introduction of supplementary limits for 16- and 17-year-old users. Yet, the central challenge lies in the mechanics: how exactly will these services verify user age? Experts warn that this could provoke a new wave of data breaches, as users—including adults—will be forced to surrender even more confidential information to confirm their identities.

“Restricting children’s access to hazardous online environments is an important step. However, the devil is in the details of execution. If age verification relies on official IDs, selfies, biometrics, or digital wallets, stringent protective measures will be paramount to prevent verification systems from becoming yet another source of ultra-sensitive data leaks,” notes Darius Belejevas, Head of Incogni.

As part of the study, Incogni analyzed 15 of the most popular platforms based on criteria including data collection practices, AI training, transparency, and regulatory penalties. The findings revealed that popular short-form video services and major US-based messaging apps were the most aggressive regarding surveillance. Conversely, Discord, Pinterest, and Quora were identified as the safest platforms for user privacy.

The study highlighted several critical trends:

• AI Model Training: Popular video hosting services (including YouTube), alongside X, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and Pinterest, explicitly state that they may utilize user content to train AI. TikTok makes no direct mention of generative AI but uses data for “machine learning models.” Meanwhile, Telegram, Twitch, and Discord assert that user information is not fed into AI models.
• Ultra-Sensitive Data: With few exceptions, the majority of US platforms harvest information regarding users’ health, race, and precise geolocation.
• Data Collection Leaders: The Android applications of the world’s leading social networks request access to 37 out of 38 possible data types on a device, ranking as the most data-hungry mobile programs in the index.

To restrict minors, platforms may deploy facial age estimation, passport scanning, or verification via credit cards and telecom operators. Consequently, even adult citizens will be compelled to navigate mandatory identification systems just to access everyday services.

Experts insist that age verification must adhere to the principle of data minimization: platforms should only verify the objective fact that a user has reached the age of 16, refrain from retaining digital copies of documents, and explicitly state where and for how long this information will be stored.

Ultimately, online safety encompasses not only the content a child consumes, but also the volume of data harvested from them for targeting and digital profiling.