# Is it time for internet services to adopt identity verification?

DevFeed: [Is it time for internet services to adopt identity verification?](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/is-it-time-for-internet-services-to-adopt-identity-verification-8415.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.welivesecurity.com/en/social-media/time-internet-services-adopt-identity-verification/>)

Author: Tony Anscombe

Published: 2026-01-14T10:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [WeLiveSecurity](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/welivesecurity.md>)

Topics: [data](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/data.md>), [real-time](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/real-time.md>)

Tags: [australia](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/australia.md>), [fraud](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/fraud.md>), [government](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/government.md>), [internet](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/internet.md>), [phishing](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/phishing.md>), [privacy](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/privacy.md>), [real-time](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/real-time.md>), [scams](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/scams.md>), [social-media](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/social-media.md>)

## AI overview

The article examines whether internet services should adopt identity verification, using Australia's ban on social media accounts for under-16s as a test case. It discusses age-verification methods, privacy risks from collecting and storing personal data, and the broader challenges of harmful content, phishing, scams and fraud.

## Source excerpt

Should verified identities become the standard online? Australia's social media ban for under-16s shows why the question matters.