On May 25th, the new General Data Protection Regulation will come into force across the EU - what does this mean for WhatsApp users?
As DerStandard reports, WhatsApp will soon increase the minimum age to 16 years.
WABetaInfo has dropped that in the future you may only potentially use the messenger service from the age of 16.
NEWS:
In order to respect new WhatsApp Terms of Service (available in future, ****maybe**** no later than 25 May), WhatsApp requires you to be at least 16 years old to use their services (13 is minimum age, currently).— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) April 12, 2018
This could be related to the new General Data Protection Regulation. The GDPR will come into force across the EU on May 25th and stipulates that personal data may only be processed if the person is 16 years of age or older. However, member states have the option to increase or decrease the age. However, permitted use is not possible for those under 13 years of age.
The advice center “Rat auf Draht” confirms that, from May 25th, everyone under the age of 16 is legally obliged to no longer use WhatsApp. However, it is not to be expected that all 13 to 15 year olds will suddenly keep their hands off the messenger service. There are also far more users under the age of 13 today than you might think.
“If you were serious about age verification, you would have to ask for a copy of the user’s ID.”
However, WhatsApp currently does not ask for birth details when registering.
According to the “Youth Internet Monitor 2018”, in which the Saferinternet.at initiative surveyed 400 people, 85 percent of eleven to 17 year olds in Austria use messenger.
In any case, age restrictions are hardly effective as long as they are based on uncontrolled user information, according to “Rat auf Draht”. In return, one should focus on educational campaigns about the use and possible dangers of social media.
If you enjoyed this post and value the importance of well-founded information, become part of the exclusive Mimikama Club! Support our work and help us promote awareness and combat misinformation. As a club member you receive:
📬 Special Weekly Newsletter: Get exclusive content straight to your inbox.
🎥 Exclusive video* “Fact Checker Basic Course”: Learn from Andre Wolf how to recognize and combat misinformation.
📅 Early access to in-depth articles and fact checks: always be one step ahead.
📄 Bonus articles, just for you: Discover content you won't find anywhere else.
📝 Participation in webinars and workshops : Join us live or watch the recordings.
✔️ Quality exchange: Discuss safely in our comment function without trolls and bots.
Join us and become part of a community that stands for truth and clarity. Together we can make the world a little better!
* In this special course, Andre Wolf will teach you how to recognize and effectively combat misinformation. After completing the video, you have the opportunity to join our research team and actively participate in the education - an opportunity that is exclusively reserved for our club members!
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

