Young people are bypassing the high street and buying
explicit video games, adult DVDs, alcohol and even weapons
online.
A nationwide survey among 1,000 male and female teenagers aged
13-17 found that young people are consistently buying inappropriate
material online thanks to poor levels of
age verification.
The research by identity management firm
GB Group revealed that nearly
half (48%) of teenage boys under 18 have tried to buy adult DVDs or
violent video games online in the past year, and over three
quarters of these were successful.
In addition, one in 20 (5%) of 14-year-olds have successfully
purchased alcohol online.
A similar number of 15-year-olds have been able to buy dangerous
objects online such as knives.
The survey also found that a quarter (25%) of teenage boys and
more than a third (38%) of teenage girls under 18 have managed to
buy items online using someone else's credit card.
While the UK online gambling industry has embraced the latest
age and ID verification processes to protect young and vulnerable
consumers, GB Group said online retailers are still failing to
verify customer ages.
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