A proposed new law in the New York State Senate would require all social media platforms and online games to require age verification for online chats. The bill is aimed at preventing adults from interacting with users under the age of 18 on platforms like Steam, for the purpose of curbing online predators.
Age verification has become a hot-button issue in the online space, with many platforms and games moving to add systems requiring users to confirm their age. Platforms like Steam, Roblox, and Discord have made waves with their implementation of age verification software, though many users have found ways to skirt around the requirements. The state of California’s Digital Age Assurance Act is even set to require PC and mobile device operating systems to ask users for their ages on startup, taking effect January 1, 2027. Now, New York may be following suit with similar restrictions to online platforms.
New York May Require Age Verification For Online Chat Platforms
The Children’s Online Safety Act, being considered by the New York State Senate, aims to place heavy restrictions on online chat systems. The bill would require all social media platforms and online games to “turn off open chat functions,” with users only able to chat with others after verifying their age. The act requires parental discretion for accounts identified as belonging to children for everything from friend requests to managing privacy settings, with parents also being notified whenever the child tries to change those settings. The bill cited several online platforms as examples that would be affected, including Facebook, Snapchat, and the previously mentioned Roblox among others.
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The bill goes further into detail about the different restrictions connected to accounts held by underage users. The bill will prevent adult users from viewing the profiles of underage users they are not connected with, and prohibits sending digital currency to those users. Parents would also be required to approve any friend requests sent to a child’s account, as well as any “financial transactions” on platforms like Steam by children. New York’s Children’s Online Safety Act has not been officially passed yet, with the bill currently in the Senate Committee.
New York’s proposed age-based restrictions follow several online platforms implementing their own verification systems. Sony recently confirmed that it will be adding age verification to the PlayStation 5 in 2026, in response to new requirements from countries like the UK. Steam previously added its own age verification systems in August 2025, which required users to add a credit card to their account in order to confirm their age on the platform.
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While more companies have continued to push for age verification software, many gamers have found ways to subvert the system. Many users reported being able to get around Discord’s age verification requirements by using the photo mode in Death Stranding 2, with pictures of protagonist Sam Porter Bridges being recognized as a real-life human adult. Some gamers even reported unusual quirks in the new age verification settings, like the holder of a Steam account created 19 years ago being forced to verify their age. The ongoing campaign for age verification on the internet could significantly reshape online spaces as a whole.
