I was researching this for another purpose, but I came across a page that talks about age verification on forums and social networks -

Online Age Verification Law Discussion

In part they gave up on making it a law because they found that kids who wanted to get at something would just lie anyway, and there was no way to prove what age they really were.

For example, on this forum here we ask people to verify they are age 13 or over, for those COPPA reasons. But we know that younger kids easily lie, just choose a different year of birth, and get in. There is no way for us to know.

What do you think, should forums ask anyway, knowing people lie? Or is asking for that information now invading the privacy of 99% of the members while not really preventing the few under-age members from joining up?

I think that it is important to have an age requirement and to ask that a new member state that they are above that age. If a member lies, but continues to communicate in a way that it does not seem they are below the minimum age then so be it. If a member has lied and starts acting like a 10 year old and makes remarks that give them away (and they will) then because you have asked and set limits then they can be asked to leave.

I think that we live in a society, where the Internet can be a fascinating place, but a dangerous one.

Parents are constantly being warned to keep a watch on their children, while they are on the Internet.
And Internet providers are constantly being asked to be more vigilant, regarding what is allowed to be aired.

I think that it is morally right, for site-owners to act as responsibly as possible.
So, yes, even though kids will get around the rules by lying, it is still right for site-owners to have those rules.

However, there are some sites which are very obviously aimed at children.
I think that the 'parakeets' section of this site may come into this category.
Maybe it would be possible to have 'parent & child' membership for such areas?

I think that the conversation in the 'general' section can be of such an adult nature, at times, that it really isn't suitable for children.

Age can affect conversations.
When I first joined the site, I was wary of discussing some matters, even with under 18's.
Also, some members have become very irritated, after debating a point with 'a fellow adult', only to find that the entrenched views were coming from a thirteen-year-old.


See:

Under 18s
http://www.wineintro.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/87859

Age restriction.
http://www.wineintro.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/120042