"In cases when regulators demand real enforcement rather than symbolic rules, platforms run into a basic technical problem. The only way to prove that someone is old enough to use a site is to collect personal data about who they are."

These so-called "platforms" already collect data about who people are in order to facilitate online advertising and whatever else the "platform" may choose to do with it. There is no way for the user to control where that data may end up or how it may be used. The third party can use the data for any purpose and share it with anyone (or not). Whether they claim they do or don't do something with the data is besides the point, their internal actions cannot be verified and there are no enforceable restrictions in the event a user discovers what they are doing and wants to stop them (at that point it may be too late for the user anyway)

"Tech" journalists and "tech bros" routinely claim these "platforms" know more about people than their own families, friends and colleagues

That's not "privacy"

Let's be honest. No one is achieving or maintaining internet "privacy" by using these "platforms", third party intermediaries (middlemen) with a surveillance "business model", in order to communicate over the internet

On the contrary, internet "privacy" has been diminishing with each passing year that people continue to use them

The so-called "platforms" have led to vast repositories of data about people that are used every day by entities who would otherwise not be legally authorised or technically capable of gathering such surveillance data. Most "platform" users are totally unaware of the possibilities. The prospect of "age verification" may be the wake up call

"Age verification" could potentially make these "platforms" suck to a point that people might stop using them. For example, it might be impossible to implement without setting off users' alarm bells. In effect, it might raise more awareness of how the vast quantity of data about people these unregulated/underregulated third parties collect "under the radar" could be shared with or used by other entities. Collecting ID is above the radar and may force people to think twice

The "platforms" don't care about "privacy" except to control it. Their "business model" relies on defeating "privacy", reshaping the notion into one where privacy from the "platform" does not exist

Internet "privacy" and mass data collection about people via "platforms" are not compatible goals

"... our founders displayed a fondness for hyperbolic vilification of those who disagreed with them. In almost every meeting, they would unleash a one-word imprecation to sum up any and all who stood in the way of their master plans.

"Bastards!" Larry would exclaim when a blogger raised concerns about user privacy."

- Douglas Edwards, Google employee number 59, from 2011 book "I'm feeling lucky"

If a user decides to stop using a third party "platform" intermediary (middleman) that engages in data collection, surveillance and ad services, for example, because they wish to avoid "age verification", then this could be the first step toward meaningful improvements in "internet privacy". People might stop creating "accounts", "signing in" and continuing to be complacent toward the surreptititious collection of data that is subsequently associated with their identity to create "profiles"