Child Safety vs. Corporate Profits Online

Roblox and similar platforms show inadequate moderation, allowing underage children to interact with adults and encounter sexualized content and poorly moderated "games." Many platforms still rely on outdated email/SIM logins that fail to verify age. Sprocket blocks under-18 users via TOS/PP, collaborates with Apple to improve developer systems, and advocates Apple Wallet ID and AI-driven age-detecting/gating. Sprocket also pushes per-US-state distribution controls so developers can comply with emerging child-protection laws without losing entire markets. New child-safety laws in 2025-2026 will increase demand for robust internet authentication that balances safety, privacy, and innovation.

💡 To me, Roblox represents what happens when a publicly-traded corporation is incentivised to prioritize adult wallets over child safety! And it's not just them - too many platforms still rely on outdated email/SIM logins that completely ignore age verification. 👨‍💻 In contrast, on my own marketplace app - Sprocket (a peer-to-peer bicycle platform) - I've spent years doing the opposite:

* Proactively blocking under-18 users ( its explicit in the TOS/PP ) * Working directly with Apple & to improve their developer systems * Advocating for real age-verification tools like Apple Wallet ID & AI-driven age-detecting/gating like what just shipped * Pushing for per-US-state distribution controls so developers can comply with new child-protection laws without being crushed by disabling all of the US market 💵

As new child safety laws roll out worldwide in 2025-2026, small developers like me are leading the charge - finding a balance between protecting kids, respecting privacy, and still fostering innovation. Because for too long we've coasted without robust internet authentication, and even if you disagree with governments eroding online privacy, we still need robust infrastructure that prevents the equivalent of kindergartners being able to walk into the equivalent of digital bars that serve alcohol and visa versa 🍺

Read at Medium