New findings from Jumio’s 2026 Online Identity Study reveal that 84 per cent of consumers in Singapore believe access to age-gated materials online is harmful to minors, compared with 81 per cent globally, with 81 per cent of Singapore respondents willing to verify their own age online to protect minors.

The research, which surveyed 8,003 adult consumers across the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Mexico, also found that 84 per cent of Singapore respondents support government action to regulate access to age-restricted content. But digital platforms face a growing challenge to balance protection with privacy: 36 per cent of Singapore respondents would avoid a platform entirely if asked for personal data during age verification, and 46 per cent would choose a less secure platform to bypass identity checks altogether.

A trust gap around personal data

Seventy-eight per cent of Singapore respondents said they would feel more comfortable sharing proof of eligibility rather than full personal details, while 70 per cent said they would prefer to verify their age once and reuse that verification across multiple platforms rather than repeating the process each time, above the 65 per cent global average.

“There’s still a major trust gap around what happens to personal data during age verification,” said Joe Kaufmann, global head of privacy at Jumio. “Stronger age assurance doesn’t necessarily mean collecting and permanently storing large amounts of sensitive data, but consumers need to understand what information is required and why. Transparency and responsible data handling are critical to building trust and encouraging consumers to participate in the verification process.”

Estimation versus verification

The study distinguishes between age estimation, which uses a selfie to predict a person’s age and produces a probabilistic signal, and age verification, which confirms an individual meets a specific age threshold using a government-issued ID supported by identity and liveness checks. Identity experts caution that estimated age signals may not provide enough assurance for regulated environments or higher-risk platforms.

“There’s an important distinction between estimating someone’s age and truly verifying it,” said Jumio CEO Mark Lorion. “Age estimation may reduce friction in lower-risk situations, but when platforms require high assurance, especially where minors are involved, the strongest age assurance is a multi-layered approach using a government-issued ID and a selfie check to confirm the real person behind the credential.”

Who bears responsibility for protecting minors

• 68% of Singapore respondents hold parents most responsible for protecting minors online
• 36% point to government agencies, 29% to individuals themselves, and 18% to tech marketplaces
• 83% believe age verification is an important tool for preventing access to harmful or restricted content

The findings suggest that while public demand for protecting minors online is high in Singapore, platforms will need to adopt privacy-preserving and proportionate verification solutions, such as reusable digital identity, to maintain user trust and regulatory compliance.

“Transparency and responsible data handling are critical to building trust and encouraging consumers to participate in the verification process,” said Joe Kaufmann, global head of privacy, Jumio.