Terms of Service with Clare Duffy Why Tech Platforms Are Now Asking for Your Age
13 snips
Oct 7, 2025 C.T. Jones, a culture writer at Rolling Stone, dives into the rising trend of online age verification. They discuss the motivations behind these laws, linking them to parental concerns and historical regulations. C.T. explains how different methods of age verification work, from ID checks to AI age estimation, while raising privacy concerns about data collection. The conversation also addresses potential impacts on free speech and the future of these mandates, suggesting alternatives that prioritize safety without sacrificing anonymity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Regulation Follows Media Growth
- Age verification pushes are part of a long history of regulating new media as it grows and shapes society.
- C.T. Jones frames current laws as the latest chapter in parental and legislative responses to emerging technologies.
Laws Are Driving Platform Pressure
- New laws like the UK's Online Safety Act and many U.S. state laws are driving platforms to verify age.
- Courts have allowed some state laws to stand, signaling legal momentum for age verification.
Age Gates Break Down On Mixed Platforms
- Age gates are expanding beyond porn to social platforms that mix content types, creating gray areas.
- Platforms that host both harmless and explicit content face hard choices about what to block.