Spotify says it will delete accounts that fail the new age check

Spotify is making major changes to how it checks users’ ages, and if you don’t pass, your account could be deactivated and deleted. 

The company is now enforcing its minimum age requirements more strictly, starting in the United Kingdom. 

If you can’t prove you meet the minimum age (which is 13 in most regions), you could lose access to your account permanently.

When logging into Spotify, some users are being asked to verify their age using a tool called Yoti, a mobile app that uses facial recognition technology to estimate how old you look. 

If Yoti thinks you appear too young, you’ll need to submit official ID for further verification. While this process is happening, your account will be temporarily deactivated. 

If you don’t complete the ID check within 90 days, Spotify will go ahead and delete your account.

So far, this seems to only apply in the UK, where new rules from the Online Safety Act now require tech companies to block children from seeing adult content, including explicit music videos, violent content, and pornography. 

As part of this law, companies must now enforce the age limits they set in their own terms of service.

Interestingly, Spotify says you can decline to verify your age, and that’s okay, but you won’t be allowed to access adult content. 

For example, if you try to watch an 18+ music video, Spotify may prompt you again to prove your age. 

It’s unclear why declining doesn’t get your account deactivated, but failing the check does.

Spotify isn’t the only platform making these changes. Other tech companies are also rolling out age verification systems to comply with these new UK safety laws. 

And the US may follow soon, with laws like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) being discussed in Congress.

For now, Spotify’s strict age verification is only happening in certain countries, but this could expand globally if more governments pass similar online safety rules.

Do you think strict age verification with potential account deletion is necessary to protect minors online? Or are these measures too harsh and likely to affect legitimate users who have privacy concerns? Tell us below in the comments, or reach us via our Twitter or Facebook.