Wikiposts
Search

Notices
Computer/Internet Issues & Troubleshooting Anyone with questions about the terribly complex world of computers or the internet should try here. NOT FOR REPORTING ISSUES WITH PPRuNe FORUMS! Please use the subforum "PPRuNe Problems or Queries."

Google demands my birthdate

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 13th April 2021 | 11:45
  #1 (permalink)  
USER0005
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Google demands my birthdate

I have just tried to login to gmail and a window has come up from Google demanding I give them my birthdate, and claiming it's a legal requirement. I have clicked past it and an now on my mail account.

Questions:, Is it a legal requirement? Is it really Google that are demanding it? If I were to give them a false date how would they ever know?
 
Reply
Old 13th April 2021 | 11:51
  #2 (permalink)  
20 Countries Visited
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 57
From: Surrey, UK ;
Answers; Not as far as I know; Probably not; unlikely they ever would but (if it really is them) they've ticked their box.
Dave Gittins is offline  
Reply
Old 13th April 2021 | 12:59
  #3 (permalink)  
JetBlast member 2005.
JetBlast member 2006.
Banned 2007
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: The US of A - sort of
Why would it be a legal requirement? If you were opening a bank account or a credit card I could see it, but Google?

Just give them any old date - but make sure you remember what it was. Make it easy like December 25th or something


...wait, you're not going to some dodgy adults only site are you?


ok, back to JetBlast for me
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! is offline  
Reply
Old 13th April 2021 | 17:38
  #4 (permalink)  
USER0005
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Having searched the web I see that Google does ask for a birth date when opening an account, looking at my account details (set up years ago) I did foolishly give them my birthday minus the year.
Wouldn't be so stupid these days!

Antivirus hasn't flagged anything suspicious and no funny sites visited.
 
Reply
Old 13th April 2021 | 22:48
  #5 (permalink)  
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 83
Likes: 16
From: Australia
When I opened a Facebook a/c I was asked for my birthdate. I used the day before, the month before and the year before.
Mind you I remember this site also asked the same question when I opened my a/c here.
Lantern10 is offline  
Reply
Old 14th April 2021 | 10:50
  #6 (permalink)  
Community Builder
20 Countries Visited
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 3,392
Likes: 324
From: near an aeroplane
The term 'legal requirement' is used rather loosely by Google here. There are certain aspects of the services that they provide that are only available to over 13s, or over 18s or over 21s. I suspect that the main drive here is that they will be able to better target advertising when they know your age. They could just as easily have had you click 'agree' to a declaration that you are over a certain age limit.

Many security services will tell you not to share your birthday online as the combination of a name and birthday provides opportunities for identity theft and such. If you use a false birthday, it's somewhat risky as you may run afoul of the site's terms and conditions. I guess that one would be the lesser risk.
Jhieminga is offline  
Reply
Old 14th April 2021 | 14:16
  #7 (permalink)  
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 6
From: Lemonia. Best Greek in the world
when I joined facebook, I said I was 100 and that I had a memorable birthday. No dates related to the real one. I once changed my age, but they won't allow me to change it again.

So other than silly Happy Birthday comments from friends who should know better, I am obviously getting a bit old for their target audience..............
Ancient Observer is offline  
Reply
Old 7th May 2021 | 16:22
  #8 (permalink)  
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 780
Likes: 89
From: Seattle
I used a date in 2006. Making me 15 years old. Sure, I can't view gory videos or porn. But then Google doesn't carry much of that. What being a 15-year-old buys me is a certain protection from data collection, scams and other stuff for which laws exist to protect minors.
EEngr is offline  
Reply
Old 8th May 2021 | 12:34
  #9 (permalink)  
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Aviation Qualifications: LAME
Posts: 1,129
Likes: 168
From: Station 42
I went to a Youtube site via a link last week and it asked for my credit card details for some confirmation or the other! Exit stage left with a lot of revs.
stevef is offline  
Reply
Old 8th May 2021 | 14:09
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: On the Rock
Just make one up!
SignalSquare is offline  
Reply
Old 16th May 2021 | 15:02
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,766
Likes: 4
From: Here and there
They have had my birthday for over a decade but they still want me to validate so that I can watch certain parts of youtube. I will not be obliging them.
Youtube say this-The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) is an EU-wide coordination of national legislation on audiovisual media – both traditional TV broadcasts and on-demand services. Recently, AVMSD was revised to extend certain rules to video-sharing platforms (VSPs).

In line with AVMSD, you may be asked to re-verify your date of birth when watching age-restricted videos. Follow the prompts to submit an image of a valid ID or credit card. Learn more about what we do with your ID/credit card.
tubby linton is offline  
Reply
Old 28th May 2021 | 10:03
  #12 (permalink)  
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 638
Likes: 18
From: South Oxfordshire
The problem I found with making up a random birth date - and not remembering it - was that when I had a login issue with one of my online accounts, the helpline tech was unable to confirm I was the account holder, and would therefore not assist.
It took about a week to prove I was the legitimate account owner.
Blues&twos is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.