Spotify age verification checks could see accounts deleted
It means that the Online Safety Act could put users accounts at risk of being deleted if they fail to verify their age.
Will Spotify require age verification?
The music streaming app announced in partnership with Yoti, a digital identity company, that age verification will be carried out via facial recognition or the use of ID documents.
Your Spotify account is getting deleted unless you do age verification pic.twitter.com/QZTJW1tIZN — Calgie (@christiancalgie) July 30, 2025
Those who chose not to disclose their age via this process will have their accounts deactivated, with the option of reinstating their account within 90 days by completing the process via a link sent to their email.
Spotify says: 'You may be presented with an age check when you try to access certain age restricted content, like music videos tagged 18+. Some users will be asked to perform an age check when accessing certain age restricted content.
'You can do this by going through our facial age check. If this shows inaccurate results, you can always correct that with an ID verification.
'If you cannot confirm you're old enough to use Spotify, your account will be deactivated and eventually deleted.'
How do I confirm my age on Spotify?
In the UK, Spotify users must be 13 or over. If the age verification checks confirm the user is under 13, they will have their account deleted.
Spotify, which has a staggering 696 million users worldwide, has stressed Yoti will delete users' data once the verification process is complete.
What have people said online about the new age checks?
Disgruntled Spotify users took to social media to share their thoughts.
One said on X: 'The time for quitting Spotify is now. Who's with me?'
'Age verification on Spotify is insane - time to leave,' another said.
While a third added: 'Age verification for pornographic material is what it was sold as.
'It's turned into age verification for Spotify, Xbox…it's got nothing to do with protecting children.'
Others also felt that now was the time to re-visit old iPods and CDs for music, instead of streaming apps, with one person commenting: 'Age verification on Spotify?!? Time to buy physical music again!'
Does Xbox have age restrictions?
Xbox have said that they are also 'investing in technologies and tools to ensure players have age-appropriate experiences on their platform', while sending notifications to UK users to verify their age.
Via a statement on their website, the gaming brand said that from the beginning of next year, age verification will be required to have 'full access' to the console's social features, such as voice or text communication and game invites.
Tips to Spot Fake Online Reviews
Recommended Reading:
Does the UK require age verification?
Age verification under the Online Safety Act came into force in the UK on July 25.
Since then, websites face being fined up to £18million if they do not check users are aged over 18 before letting them access potentially 'harmful' material.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
6 hours ago
- Metro
GTA Online age check settings confirmed real as screenshots leak
Rockstar's rumoured age verification system for GTA Online appears to be real, as a reliable leaker unearths menu screens showing it in action. The UK's Online Safety Act has led to a wave of newly implemented age checks across porn sites and social media, but it's creeping its way into gaming, too. Platforms like Discord have already rolled out age verification systems to access certain features and age-restricted content, and a leaker earlier this month claimed Rockstar was planning to add something similar to GTA Online. A week later, and the same leaker has posted further evidence that age verification in GTA Online is happening – this time via actual screenshots. In a post on X, Tez2, a long-serving dataminer for Rockstar titles, posted screenshots of the menu screens showing the age check settings. 'A preview of age assurance in-game,' they wrote. 'This is not active yet.' One screenshot shows a splash screen for GTA Online with 'please verify your age to access online features' emblazoned across the bottom. Another screenshot shows new toggles in the settings menu, with the option to 'verify age' at the top and buttons below it to turn on online access, store access, and Snapmatic upload, presumably once you've confirmed your age. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Based on these screenshots, it's unclear what options there'll be to verify your age, but it will likely involve some kind of facial recognition scan or credit card details, based on what's been implemented elsewhere. More Trending Rockstar hasn't officially announced any age check systems for GTA Online yet, but it certainly makes sense to avoid any blowback from these new laws – especially ahead of GTA 6 next year, which will likely become another focal point of controversy. The big question, if these age checks are rolled out, is whether this might impact the sales of GTA 6 to some degree. Although considering adults have been buying 18+ games for underage teens for decades, this will likely just become another minor nuisance for parents who aren't that bothered about their offspring attending a virtual strip club. GTA 6 is set to launch on May 26 next year across PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, but there are concerns it could be delayed again. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: EA Sports FC 26 hands-on preview – a bigger change than you think MORE: Super Mario Bros. 40th anniversary leaks are fake but what is Nintendo planning? MORE: Genshin Impact sparks fan fury as it shuts down PS4 version
Scotsman
12 hours ago
- Scotsman
The UK phone network helping parents monitor kids safely
As more children get smartphones at a younger age, parents face growing pressure to strike a balance between independence and online safety | Canva With online threats rising and pressure to hand over a phone growing, a new UK network is offering parents a way to stay involved – without the usual tech battles. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It's the conversation many parents dread – the day your child starts asking for a mobile phone. It usually happens around Year 5 or 6, and it's easy to feel outnumbered. 'Everyone else has one,' they'll say. And in many cases, they're not wrong. But just because it's common, doesn't mean it's simple. The risks – from strangers contacting your child to online bullying, sexting, and exposure to harmful content – are very real. So how do you balance your child's growing independence with your instinct to protect them? A growing number of UK parents are looking for off-the-shelf and innovative solutions, and some are turning to mobile service ParentShield – designed specifically for children and vulnerable users – to give children the freedom they crave, without handing over the keys to the adult internet. We've taken a closer look at how it works, and what you need to know before handing over that first handset. New online laws are here – but the danger hasn't gone away You may have seen headlines about the new Online Safety Act and age checks for adult websites. These laws are a long-awaited step to stop children stumbling across porn and other harmful material, and they've been broadly welcomed by parents and campaigners alike. But there's a catch. Many experts believe the crackdown will spark a wave of workarounds, fake apps and offshore platforms designed to bypass the restrictions. As one door closes, another opens – and bad actors are likely to take advantage of children who are curious, unsupervised or just one click away from content they were never meant to see. That's why relying on rules and filters alone isn't enough. The safest approach is still direct control – and that's exactly what ParentShield's features are designed to provide. By managing the network itself, rather than relying on apps or software that can be deleted or dodged, parents keep a direct line into who their child is speaking to, and when. Can't I just give them a cheap pay-as-you-go phone and keep an eye on it? It's a tempting idea – and for a while, it worked. But modern phones are smarter, and kids are getting better at hiding what they're doing. Deleted messages, secret apps, fake accounts – most parents can't keep up. ParentShield puts parents back in charge. The SIM records every text and call and stores it securely for six months. You don't need to install anything on the phone. Your child doesn't have the power to remove or change it. And you can log in at any time to see exactly what's going on. Despite their young age, children are spending more time on phones than ever – raising urgent questions for parents about safety, supervision and screen time | Canva What if something bad is said to them – or by them? One of the most powerful tools is the Word Alerts feature. You choose words or phrases that concern you – anything from bullying language to self-harm references – and ParentShield sends you an alert the moment one appears in a text. You don't have to constantly monitor the portal. It flags problems for you, fast. Will my child know they're being monitored? Yes – and that's no bad thing. ParentShield is transparent. The point isn't to spy on your child in secret, but to create a shared understanding of boundaries and safety. Many parents report that using ParentShield actually makes conversations about phone use easier, not harder. The SIM works like any other. Kids can call, text and use data (if you allow it). But they can't change settings, spend money, or sign up to adult services. And because it blocks verification codes for age-restricted apps like WhatsApp or Snapchat, it stops them getting through the front door in the first place. Can I control what they access, and when? Completely. ParentShield includes Time-Restricted Mode, so you can block everything but 'home numbers' and emergency services during school hours, bedtime or family meals. You can also block specific numbers, restrict usage to approved contacts, or disable internet access entirely. There's no need to physically take the phone away. All settings are controlled through your online portal – and the child has no way to override them. What if they just turn the phone off? You'll know. You can choose to receive an alert as soon as the phone reconnects to a network – so if the battery dies or they switch it off to avoid being checked, you'll see exactly when it comes back online. Does it work in rural areas? Yes – ParentShield's Roam Stage SIMs connect to whichever of the UK's four main networks (EE, Vodafone, O2, Three) has the strongest signal in your area. This roaming approach often delivers better coverage than standard SIMs locked to a single network. So when is the right time to give your child a phone? There's no one-size-fits-all answer. Some children genuinely need one earlier than others – for walking home alone, staying in touch with separated parents, or managing anxiety about being out of contact. What matters is how you do it. The shift happening now isn't just about the age of first phones – it's about safer phones. Parents who once felt trapped between saying no and handing over an adult phone now have another option. ParentShield isn't a tech fix for lazy parenting. It's a proper support system for families trying to do the right thing in a digital world that's never made it harder.
The Independent
12 hours ago
- The Independent
The Xbox Rog Ally handheld release date may have just leaked
Handheld gaming consoles are all the rage right now. With the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, the success of Valve's Steam Deck and the rise of portable PCs, it's no wonder Microsoft is about to enter the space. At its annual Xbox Games Showcase in June, Microsoft announced the ROG Xbox Ally, its first-ever handheld games console. Developed in partnership with Asus and based on the existing ROG Ally hardware, the new handheld will launch in two versions: the entry-level ROG Xbox Ally and the high-end ROG Xbox Ally X – two machines that will boot directly into a new Xbox operating system rather than Windows, giving players direct access to their digital Xbox libraries and Game Pass titles via the cloud. But when will it arrive? According to the latest leaks and rumours, you might not have long to wait to pre-order the console. Here's everything we know so far about the Xbox ROG Ally and Xbox ROG Ally X, from release date to price. ROG Xbox Ally release date: When will it launch? While Microsoft only stated that the Xbox handheld will launch later this year around the Christmas period, rumours have begun circulating about its release date. In late July, reliable leaker Billbil-kun claimed pre-orders for both models of the ROG Xbox Ally will go live on Wednesday 20 August 2025. This would coincide with an Xbox live broadcast scheduled for that day at 2pm BST, something outlined in Xbox's official programme. One segment of the stream is expected to focus on the Xbox Ally, which the leaker predicts will be when a release date and pre-order details will be announced. ROG Xbox Ally price: How much could the handheld cost? In mid-July, a report leaked the rumoured price of Microsoft's new Xbox-branded handheld – and it's bad news for anyone hoping for a bargain. As reported by 3djeugos, the ROG Xbox Ally X could start at €599 for the base model and €899 for the top-spec edition. Those prices have since been backed up by Dealabs leaker Bilbil-kun, who confirmed the figures in a report in late July. The leak was further corroborated by an authorised Spanish Asus retailer, which briefly listed the handhelds online with matching prices. If accurate, that would make it more expensive than the Xbox Series X (£493.48, home console, but roughly in line with the existing Asus ROG Ally device (£449.99, on which the upcoming Xbox handheld is based. Rog Xbox Ally design and features As well as an Xbox button, the ROG Xbox Ally gets longer, contoured hand grips that more closely resemble the Xbox controller. It also gets the Xbox controller's impulse triggers, a pair of custom-built rumble motors located inside the shoulder buttons that deliver more realistic haptic feedback. Handheld gaming PCs have rocketed in popularity in recent years, with the Steam Deck among the most successful examples of the form factor. Like the Steam Deck, the ROG Xbox Ally promises better performance and efficiency by skipping the resource-gobbling Windows operating system and booting into its own dedicated interface. The redesigned Xbox app is more handheld-friendly and acts like a library for your entire PC games library, including games from other storefronts. Because it's basically a portable PC in disguise, the ROG Xbox Ally will support third-party PC apps like Discord and even rival storefronts like Steam, Epic Games and GOG, so your entire PC gaming library will be playable on the new Xbox handheld. ROG Xbox Ally X specs The more powerful ROG Xbox Ally X is designed for 1080p gaming and runs on the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The entry-level ROG Xbox Ally targets a more modest 720p and uses a new AMD Ryzen 2A processor with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Both use the same display found in the existing ROG Ally hardware, a 7in, 1080p screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and VRR support. Best gaming handheld consoles in 2025 The upcoming ROG Xbox Ally X is based on the current ROG Ally X from Asus, which you can buy right now if you don't fancy waiting around for Microsoft to stick a new button on it. One of the best handheld gaming PCs available today, it pairs a powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 processor with a whopping 24GB of RAM and an efficient cooling system to deliver high-end gaming PC performance in a portable form factor. As it's essentially a tiny PC, you can launch the Xbox app as you would on your laptop or desktop to access your digital games library and stream games via the cloud using your Game Pass subscription. Microsoft promises that the Xbox-branded ROG Ally X will deliver better performance and battery life thanks to its streamlined Xbox interface. Valve's portable is the best budget handheld gaming PC you'll find, untethering your Steam games library from the desktop to let you play anywhere you like. While more recent handheld gaming PCs have outpaced the Steam Deck in terms of specs, display and performance, the console's price drop to just £349 makes it hard to ignore. Still more than powerful enough to play older titles, mid-range and indie games, the Steam Deck can handle recent releases without too much choppiness. There's a newer model with an OLED display (£479, but the £130 premium places it in competition with more powerful handhelds like the ROG Ally.
