 | Age assurance Age assurance helps protect children when they use online apps and websites. It involves methods that work out how old someone is, so they can see content that's right for their age and be kept away from harmful material. |
 | Age estimation Age estimation uses computer programs to predict how old someone is by looking at how they look or act. |
 | Age gating Age gating checks a person's age before letting them use specific content, services, or products. It helps keep kids safe by blocking them from seeing inappropriate things online. |
 | Age rating Age ratings tell people the recommended minimum age for using or watching something based on what it contains. These ratings are found on video games, TV shows, apps, and movies. These ratings are also known as content ratings or maturity ratings. |
 | Age token An age token is a digital pass that proves you're old enough -or young enough - without sharing your personal details. You get one after proving your age to a trusted company. You can save this pass in your digital wallet or web browser and use it on different websites and apps. |
 | Age verification A way to verify users' age before letting them use the service, such as by checking ID or physical features. |
 | Audiovisual Media Services Directive The EU's Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) is a law that controls all video and audio content in European Union countries. It covers everything you watch or listen to, whether it's on TV, online, or on your phone. This includes both regular TV shows and streaming services. The law focuses on keeping viewers safe, especially children and young people. |
 | Bias Bias means preferring one view over another in either a good or bad way. It can affect how we think about ideas, things, groups or people. Some online content deliberately presents only one side of a story, which isn't always easy to notice. |
 | Digital consent Digital consent means asking for and getting approval before doing something on the internet. |
 | Digital Services Act
Want to learn more? Visit the Better Internet for Kids website or download an easy-to-understand guide about the DSA, which explains how it protects young people online. The guide is available in 24 languages. |
 | Duty of care Duty of care means being legally required to take reasonable steps to prevent harm to others. |
 | Facial age estimation Age estimation using faces works by looking at someone's photo or video to predict how old they are based on how their face looks. |
 | General Data Protection Regulation The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a law that protects people's personal data. It sets rules for how websites and companies can collect, use, and share the information you give them when you use their services. |
 | Loot boxes Loot boxes are surprise items or rewards in video games. Players can buy them with real money or points earned while playing. You only find out what's inside after you buy them. |
 | Parental controls Parental controls are settings that allow parents to control what their children can see and do online to keep them safe from harmful content and dangers. |
 | Personal data Personal data means any details about a person. This includes things like their name, birthday, where they live, what they look like, what they believe in, pictures of them, or any other information that tells us about them. |
 | Privacy-friendly Privacy-friendly means protecting your personal information and letting you decide how it's used. It means asking your permission before collecting your data, clearly explaining what will be done with it, and only gathering information that's really needed. |
 | Self-declaration Users confirm to the system or platform that they are above a certain age (for example, over 18), oftentimes by simply clicking a “enter website” button, or a checkbox. |
 | Trusted third party A trusted third party can help users and digital services to talk to each other. For age assurance, a trusted third party can check how old someone is and give them a digital pass. Users can then use this pass on different websites without having to share their personal details again and again. |
 | United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Almost every country in the world (196 in total) has agreed to follow these rules. |
Further information and resources
Download the Age assurance toolkit here.
Age assurance and online child safety
| Age assurance Age assurance helps protect children when they use online apps and websites. It involves methods that work out how old someone is, so they can see content that's right for their age and be kept away from harmful material. |
| Age estimation Age estimation uses computer programs to predict how old someone is by looking at how they look or act. |
| Age gating Age gating checks a person's age before letting them use specific content, services, or products. It helps keep kids safe by blocking them from seeing inappropriate things online. |
| Age rating Age ratings tell people the recommended minimum age for using or watching something based on what it contains. These ratings are found on video games, TV shows, apps, and movies. These ratings are also known as content ratings or maturity ratings. |
| Age token An age token is a digital pass that proves you're old enough -or young enough - without sharing your personal details. You get one after proving your age to a trusted company. You can save this pass in your digital wallet or web browser and use it on different websites and apps. |
| Age verification A way to verify users' age before letting them use the service, such as by checking ID or physical features. |
| Audiovisual Media Services Directive The EU's Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) is a law that controls all video and audio content in European Union countries. It covers everything you watch or listen to, whether it's on TV, online, or on your phone. This includes both regular TV shows and streaming services. The law focuses on keeping viewers safe, especially children and young people. |
| Bias Bias means preferring one view over another in either a good or bad way. It can affect how we think about ideas, things, groups or people. Some online content deliberately presents only one side of a story, which isn't always easy to notice. |
| Digital consent Digital consent means asking for and getting approval before doing something on the internet. |
| Digital Services Act
Want to learn more? Visit the Better Internet for Kids website or download an easy-to-understand guide about the DSA, which explains how it protects young people online. The guide is available in 24 languages. |
| Duty of care Duty of care means being legally required to take reasonable steps to prevent harm to others. |
| Facial age estimation Age estimation using faces works by looking at someone's photo or video to predict how old they are based on how their face looks. |
| General Data Protection Regulation The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a law that protects people's personal data. It sets rules for how websites and companies can collect, use, and share the information you give them when you use their services. |
| Loot boxes Loot boxes are surprise items or rewards in video games. Players can buy them with real money or points earned while playing. You only find out what's inside after you buy them. |
| Parental controls Parental controls are settings that allow parents to control what their children can see and do online to keep them safe from harmful content and dangers. |
| Personal data Personal data means any details about a person. This includes things like their name, birthday, where they live, what they look like, what they believe in, pictures of them, or any other information that tells us about them. |
| Privacy-friendly Privacy-friendly means protecting your personal information and letting you decide how it's used. It means asking your permission before collecting your data, clearly explaining what will be done with it, and only gathering information that's really needed. |
| Self-declaration Users confirm to the system or platform that they are above a certain age (for example, over 18), oftentimes by simply clicking a “enter website” button, or a checkbox. |
| Trusted third party A trusted third party can help users and digital services to talk to each other. For age assurance, a trusted third party can check how old someone is and give them a digital pass. Users can then use this pass on different websites without having to share their personal details again and again. |
| United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Almost every country in the world (196 in total) has agreed to follow these rules. |
Further information and resources
Download the Age assurance toolkit here.
Age assurance and online child safety
- age assurance age verification age-appropriate design
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