Google begins global rollout of age verification API in Google Play

Google has begun the global rollout of its Play Age Signals API within the Google Play store. This developer-facing interface allows for the verification of user ages, responding to increasing regulatory demands for age verification in digital services.

The system utilizes Google's existing Family Link app and does not require users to submit identification documents or selfies. Instead, parents can set age ranges for their children's managed accounts. This data assists app developers in tailoring content and user experiences for teenagers, such as enabling content appropriate for 16–17-year-olds.

Google emphasizes that these age ranges are dynamic and update as users get older. Parents have the option to share these settings and manage their children's app store experience. The system is designed as an opt-in feature and can be adjusted or disabled at any time.

Regulators worldwide have intensified requirements for verifying the age of online users, and Google's move addresses these growing mandates, which also impact app stores.