Lack of age verification means 13-17 year olds increasingly free to buy inappropriate material online.

May 12, 2008 (XTVWorld.Com) -- Young people are using the internet to buy inappropriate material, such as explicit video games, adult DVDs, alcohol and even weapons, because it's easier than buying it on the high street, according to new research issued today (Mon).

A nationwide survey among 1,000 male and female teenagers aged 13-17 found that young people are consistently trying to buy inappropriate material online thanks to poor levels of age verification – and in thousands of cases across the country are successful in their attempts.

The research - by GB Group, the UK's leading identity management company - reveals:
- Nearly half (48%) of teenage boys under 18 have tried to buy adult DVDs or violent video games online in the past year...and over three quarters of these were successful
- One in 20 (5%) 14 year olds have successfully purchased alcohol online
- A similar number of 15 year olds have been able to buy dangerous objects online such as knives
- A quarter (25%) of teenage boys and over a third (38%) of teenage girls under 18 have managed to buy items online using someone else's credit card

Recent advances in online technology mean websites can now immediately verify anyone who tries to buy or access material which could be deemed inappropriate, by cross-referencing existing ID and age data - allowing online firms to keep sites user-friendly while putting security measures in place to protect young people.

Yet while the UK online gambling industry has embraced latest age and ID verification processes, to protect young and vulnerable consumers, the survey shows that online retailers are still failing to verify customer ages: two thirds (66%) of 13-17 year olds have been asked for ID in shops when trying to buy inappropriate material over the past year, yet just 18% of young people have been asked to prove their ID when trying to buy similar items online over the same period.

Even popular social network sites such as YouTube and Facebook currently offer 'adult' content without any stringent age verification.

The findings come in the week the Online Purchasing of Goods and Services (Age Verification) Bill receives a further reading in Parliament; introduced by Margaret Moran, Labour MP for Luton South, it is due to receive its second reading on Friday (May 16).

Moran's proposals aim to ensure that anyone selling age-restricted goods and services over the internet has to take steps to verify if customers are old enough. It is the first time a politician in Europe has called for online age and identity verification to be put on the statute books.

GB Group, who conducted the research, is the UK's leading age and ID verification company, and has helped the UK online gaming industry clean up its act in recent years thanks to is ability to verify age and identity online.

Richard Law, GB Group's CEO, said: "The research shows there is an urgent need for online retailers to take a more responsible approach to protecting youngsters from buying inappropriate goods online.

"Under-age binge drinking is a huge problem, for example, yet many online retailers still don't have any form of robust age verification system in place. And it's even possible for young people to successfully buy knives online without having to undergo any age or ID check.

"Online businesses need to recognise the recent developments that have been made in verifying age and identity – it is now possible to take a risk-based approach to verifying customer identity, starting with those customer groups and products that may pose the highest risks."

This survey shows just how easy it is for under-18s to purchase unsuitable items online: nearly one in five (17%) got round any age restrictions by using a pre-paid credit card, while 84% only had to tick a box to say they were 18.

Richard Law, of GB Group, added: "The UK online gaming industry has demonstrated how it can protect vulnerable and young people from accessing inappropriate online material – online gaming firms are obliged under official rules to undertake age checks.

"The absence of similar obligatory rules in relation top the sale of alcohol, DVDs and knives online means on the face of it that a value judgement is being made that underage gambling is worse for youngsters than underage drinking, watching adult DVDs or possessing knives, and I believe this point is well made in Margaret Moran's Bill."

Contact:
www.gb.co.uk