VRChat has introduced an age verification system for its adult audience who’ve opted for the paid VRC+ subscription. Late last year, VRChat shared its plans to collaborate with a company known as Persona. The aim was to verify users’ ages through a government-issued ID, using either their phone or computer camera. This feature is designed to control access to certain areas, specifically those flagged with the ‘Age Verification’ option, though it’s not essential for general VRChat use.
Now the age verification feature has officially rolled out to VRC+ subscribers, accompanied by a detailed Q&A on its application. As outlined, the verification process involves Persona checking your government ID and matching it to your face. VRChat gets the information extracted from your ID but only processes the text, avoiding images or facial scans. This text is then converted into a secure, non-reversible code that gets saved.
Importantly, all text except for your birth date gets erased and is never kept on VRChat’s servers.
Check out the original announcement video for this feature:
In a video from last year, VRChat’s Senior Community Manager, Strasz, mentioned, “We’ll be joining forces with several event organizers to test age-verified events.” During this testing phase, only people from specific groups can apply for age verification, and only these groups can limit access to verified individuals. We’re starting on a small scale to iron out any issues.
For those creating Group Instances and using this feature, there’s an option to limit access solely to age-verified users. For instance, a virtual bar might want to ensure only those 18 and over can enter. That means everyone attending has to complete the age verification first. Once verified, users (assuming they’re 18 or older) can freely enter any Age Verification Instances in the future.
Users who’ve been age-verified can also choose to add a “Verified 18+” badge to their VRChat profile.
VRChat explains that introducing the age verification option will empower our communities and users, allowing them to customize their experiences more effectively, leading to a stronger and safer platform.
This article was initially published on November 29, 2024, discussing the age verification announcement and trials. It has since been updated and republished following the feature’s release to VRChat+ subscribers two months later.
