Age-Only Verification
Verify users are 18+ through face estimation and liveness detection — no ID document required.
How It Works
The age-only flow captures a continuous video recording of the user while performing a series of liveness challenges. No government-issued ID document is required.
- Video recording begins — the user's camera captures a continuous WebM video throughout the session.
- Face detection — the system verifies a single face is present, centered, and at the correct size.
- Liveness challenges — the user completes randomized challenges: blink detection and head turn (left or right).
- Anti-spoofing analysis — the system checks for printed photos, video replay, and mask attacks.
- Age estimation — at least 3 face samples are collected, and the median estimated age is calculated.
- Auto-decision or manual review — based on the estimated age, the verification is either auto-decided or routed to an admin.
Auto-Decision Thresholds
Age-only verifications use automated decision logic based on the median estimated age:
| Estimated Age | Decision | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| ≥ 25 | Auto-approved | Clearly adult — no ambiguity |
| 14 – 24 | Manual review | Borderline range requires human judgment |
| < 14 | Auto-rejected | Clearly a minor |
Minimum Requirements
Each age-only verification must meet the following minimums to be accepted:
- 3 face samples minimum — collected during the liveness challenge sequence
- Real score — anti-spoofing detection threshold
- Live score — liveness detection threshold
- Single face — exactly one face must be detected in frame
- Face centered — within the central part of the frame
- Frontal pose — face within ±20° of center
Use Cases
- Content platforms — quick age gates for age-restricted content without the friction of document upload
- Gaming platforms — verify players meet minimum age requirements before accessing mature content
- Social networks — age-gate certain features or communities without collecting identity documents
- E-commerce — age verification for restricted products (alcohol, tobacco) during checkout
What Age-Only Does Not Include
Age-only verification is designed for speed and low friction. It does not include:
- ID document capture or verification
- Legal name extraction
- 2257 performer record creation
- Face matching against an ID photo
For these capabilities, see Full KYC & 2257 Compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How accurate is face-based age estimation?
- Age estimation uses multiple face samples (minimum 3) and takes the median result to reduce variance. Users estimated at 25 or older are auto-approved. Those in the 14-24 range are routed to manual admin review to ensure borderline cases are handled correctly.
- What happens if the estimated age is between 14 and 24?
- The verification is flagged for manual admin review. An admin reviews the liveness video and face samples to make a determination. This ensures that borderline cases receive human judgment rather than relying solely on automated estimation.
- How does liveness detection work?
- Users complete a series of randomized challenges during a continuous video recording: blink detection and head turn (left or right). Anti-spoofing analysis checks for printed photos, video replay attacks, and masks. A real score and a live score are required to pass.
- Can age-only verification be used without an ID document?
- Yes. Age-only verification relies entirely on face estimation and liveness detection. No government-issued ID document is required, making it the lowest-friction verification level available.