Do you verify age? Risks for minors on online platforms

Minors in the Spotlight: Are companies doing enough to verify their users’ age? This article examines the legal consequences, corporate responsibility, and how digital identity verification can help prevent these risks.

Most companies are betting on offering many of their services online, but there is still an information gap that needs to be addressed: minors have access to content, platforms, and products that may put their emotional, physical, and social development at risk. 

From entertainment apps to betting sites and e-commerce platforms, many companies are not implementing effective filters to prevent minors from accessing restricted services. The question is: Are they complying with the law? And, more importantly, are they assuming their ethical and legal responsibility?

What does Mexican law say about the protection of minors?

Mexican legislation clearly establishes the protection of girls, boys, and adolescents as a paramount interest. The General Law on the Rights of Girls, Boys, and Adolescents states that every person under 18 years of age must be protected from content, products, and services that could affect their well-being.

Additionally, in sectors such as betting and online gaming, the Federal Law on Games and Sweepstakes It expressly prohibits the participation of minors. Likewise, the General Law for Tobacco Control and the General Health Law establish restrictions on the sale and promotion of products such as cigarettes and alcohol, which may only be purchased by adults.

Although many of these laws have focused on physical environments, authorities have begun to require that they also be strictly enforced in the digital realm. So, let’s imagine: what safeguards exist to prevent, for example, a minor from entering and purchasing a bottle of alcohol on a marketplace? Companies in this industry have a pop-up when you enter their site asking if you are of legal age, Is this really an effective safeguard?
The National Survey on Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use in Mexico reported that 39.8% of minors have consumed alcohol at least once in their lives, while 8.3% of minors have had five or more drinks in the past month.

It’s not a minor issue. Beyond the importance of fostering genuine social awareness over self-interest—such as increasing sales—what happens if a company fails to verify the identity of its underage users?

The omission of age verification controls can lead to multiple legal consequences, including:

• Financial penalties for allowing access to or the sale of prohibited products to minors. 
• Closure of platforms or services for non-compliance with health regulations or child protection provisions. 
• Criminal liability in cases where the safety or integrity of a minor is compromised. 
• And of course, the loss of credibility and reputational sanctions, especially in highly regulated industries such as betting, entertainment, or e-commerce.

In other words: lacking an identity validation protocol puts minors at risk and seriously exposes companies.

Protection of Minors on the Internet

With the evolution of technology, many children access social networks, adult content sites, dating apps, or betting platforms using false information or without any kind of filter. Current tools allow profiles to be created with just an email address, without real age or identity verification. This raises an important social question: Are we building a safe digital environment for minors, or are we simply letting them navigate uncontrolled in dangerous waters?

How can Tu Identidad help?

Tu Identidad offers identity validation services that enable companies to comply with the law and protect their target audience through tools such as: Validation of official documents such asCURP or passport, facial recognition, and integrated age estimation through the personal data verification..

With this technology, companies can create robust barriers to prevent access by minors to products or services that are not intended for them, thus avoiding sanctions and building a responsible corporate image. More than a legal obligation, verifying user identity—especially when it involves minors—is an ethical responsibility. Companies that integrate validation solutions comply with the law and become active agents of child protection in the digital ecosystem.

Today more than ever, identity matters. And making sure that the person behind the screen is who they claim to be could be the difference between a secure operation and a legal, social, and reputational issue.