Why does age verification matter? Businesses covered by age assurance laws “need not verify an individual’s specific age, but simply whether an individual falls above or below a certain threshold, usually 18. That said, the age verification requirement applies to anyone seeking access, which of course means that it applies to both minors and adults.” Put simply, age verification matters because it applies to everyone using online services. ‘Safe does not mean kid-proof’When asking why age verification matters, certain topics are unavoidable: risk, privacy, and data stewardship. That means age assurance is increasingly necessary – but it brings its own risks for adults.