| Age verification was introduced to residents of | | | | therefore holds much more appeal to youngsters |
| Second Life during 2009 as an optional means of | | | | seeking to experience the virtual world. With age |
| confirming that you are old enough to play | | | | verification came the introduction of "adult" |
| Second Life and thus access the adult regions. It | | | | regions. All adult content was moved into these |
| remains to this day entirely optional. | | | | regions and only age verified accounts (or those |
| The process works by allowing a resident of | | | | with payment info on file stating that they are |
| Second Life to login to their account and enter | | | | above 18) were able to access the regions. This, |
| either their passport number, social security | | | | again, goes some way to dealing with the issue. |
| number or other type of identity card number | | | | Another major benefit of any form of identity |
| (many European ID cards are now accepted too). | | | | verification in a virtual world like Second Life is in |
| This information is sent instantly to a third party | | | | business. There are a huge number of very real |
| that checks that the holder of that particular | | | | financial business transactions taking place on a |
| identity means is above the age of 18. Linden Lab | | | | day to day basis in Second Life. In dealing with |
| (Second Life's creators and owners) do not keep | | | | someone who has proven an element of their |
| the number itself on file. What they get is a code | | | | identity, you often feel safer. This can add a level |
| that confirms the user is old enough, or confirms | | | | of trust to business in Second Life. |
| that they are not. This was set up to increase | | | | However, there are downsides too. As well as |
| security and lower concerns about the amount of | | | | concerns over how the data is held, there are |
| data that Linden Lab has on file about any | | | | those who worry about underage teenagers |
| individual. But what are the pros and cons of | | | | stealing identity cards (from family, strangers or |
| Second Life age verification? | | | | friends) in order to use the number and 'verify' |
| Well, to start with the positives, this is a means | | | | their age. But the major downside of age |
| of filtering out, to some extent, the problem of | | | | verification is that it remains optional. While this |
| underage users. While a registrant must be 18 | | | | remains optional, there are those who will access |
| years of age or older to use the main Second | | | | the grid under the age of 18 without encountering |
| Life grid, it's common knowledge that people | | | | any challenge to it all. Of course, there are always |
| younger than that lie during registration in order to | | | | ways for people to flout the rules, but I firmly |
| access it. This is also, in part, owing to the fact | | | | believe that Linden Lab should be making it as |
| that the teen grid for 13 - 18 year olds, is | | | | difficult as possible for people to do this. |
| somewhat under populated and neglected by | | | | Compulsory age verification is one such way in |
| Linden Lab to some extent. The main grid | | | | which that can be achieved. |