Facebook age verification is a check run with Yoti, a third-party age verification service, where you either take a video selfie or upload an ID showing your face and date of birth. As of October 2026, Facebook Help says a selfie check can take up to 20 minutes, and that both the selfie image and an uploaded ID are deleted within 30 days.
Facebook Help says the information is only used to confirm your age and won't be visible on your profile, to friends or to other people on Facebook.
The detail that matters most for privacy: Facebook Help says the selfie technology only estimates age and can't identify specific people. Facebook shares an image from your selfie with the vendor, and says it doesn't share any other information about you with them.
Why Facebook asks you to confirm your age
Facebook requires people to be at least 13 to sign up. Facebook Help says that in some regions you may have to confirm your age to keep using your account. It also says you'll be asked for more information if you're under 18 and try to change your age to over 18, or try to use a feature or product meant for adults. For the basics of who the platform is for, see what Facebook is and how it works.
Facebook Help says you can confirm your age by giving your date of birth, photo identification and/or a video selfie. You can also review and edit your birthday in your settings.
Selfie or ID: the two routes compared
| Detail | Video selfie | ID upload |
|---|---|---|
| What you do | Record a selfie, moving your face in the directions you're asked | Photograph an ID that shows your face and date of birth |
| Camera | Facebook asks permission if you haven't used the camera on Facebook before | You need to allow Facebook access to your camera |
| What's checked | Technology that only estimates age and can't identify specific people | The photo of your face and your date of birth on the ID |
| Deleted | The image, within 30 days of your age estimate being shared with Facebook | Your ID, within 30 days |
| Visible to others | No, not on your profile or to friends | No, not on your profile or to friends |
How to take the video selfie
Facebook Help says you'll see on-screen instructions. The steps it describes are:
- Allow camera access if Facebook asks; it'll ask if you haven't used the camera on Facebook before.
- Make sure your whole face is visible and there's enough light for the camera.
- Take off anything that blocks your face, such as a mask or hat.
- Move your face in the directions you're asked, such as right and left, and up and down.
- Submit the selfie on the screen that follows.
Once it's submitted, you can carry on using Facebook or close the app. Facebook Help says the check can take up to 20 minutes, and you'll get a notification with the outcome.
Using an ID instead
Facebook Help says the ID you choose must include a photo of your face and your date of birth, and names a passport or driving licence as examples. You'll need to let Facebook use your camera.
To capture it, lay the ID on a flat surface, avoid glare and shadows, and centre it. Once it's scanned, you can submit the photo for review or retake it.
Two rules from Facebook Help's ID page are worth knowing. Don't digitally hide anything, because Facebook doesn't accept photos that have been modified to conceal information. You can, though, physically cover details it doesn't need, such as an ID number, before you take the photo, and Facebook says it ignores sensitive information that isn't required for the review. And only send what's asked for, because extra documents may slow the review down.
What happens to your selfie and ID afterwards
For the selfie route, Facebook Help says that once your age has been estimated and shared with Facebook, it deletes the image within 30 days. For the ID route, it says your ID is deleted within 30 days. Neither appears on your profile.
Facebook Help describes Yoti as verified by the Age Check Certification Scheme and used across several industries around the world, including social media, gaming and age-restricted e-commerce. Facebook says it uses Yoti to provide age-appropriate experiences.
There's one more step for younger users. Depending on the laws in your region, Facebook Help says you may also need parental approval if Facebook decides you're under a certain age. The age that triggers this depends on local law.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Age checks versus identity checks
Don't confuse this with Facebook asking you to confirm who you are. Facebook's Types of IDs page also covers name checks and account recovery, where you may be asked for something showing your name, with options such as government photo IDs, non-government IDs, official certificates or licences, or even a magazine subscription or an item of post. That's a separate Help article and a separate process, explained in why Facebook is asking you to verify your identity.
Advertisers running ads about social issues, elections or politics face their own ID rules again. And if you're locked out rather than being asked your age, start with what to do when you can't log into Facebook. Age verification isn't the same thing as Meta Verified, either.
My advice
If you're comfortable on camera, the video selfie is the lighter option: Facebook only shares an image from it with the vendor, the technology can't identify you, and the image goes within 30 days. Pick a well-lit spot, take off your hat or mask and follow the prompts. If you'd rather use an ID, cover your ID number by hand before photographing it, never with editing, and send only the document you're asked for.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Facebook asking me to verify my age?
Facebook Help says some regions require age confirmation to keep using an account, and you'll be asked if you're under 18 and try to change your age to over 18 or use a feature meant for adults.
Who does Facebook's age verification?
Yoti, a third-party age verification service. Facebook Help says Yoti is verified by the Age Check Certification Scheme.
What ID does Facebook accept for age verification?
An ID that includes a photo of your face and your date of birth. Facebook Help names a passport or driving licence as examples.
How long does the video selfie check take?
Up to 20 minutes, according to Facebook Help. You'll get a notification with the outcome.
Does Facebook keep my ID or selfie?
Only for a limited time. Facebook Help says the selfie image is deleted within 30 days of your age estimate being shared with Facebook, and an uploaded ID is deleted within 30 days.
Will my ID or birthday be visible to others?
No. Facebook Help says the information used to confirm your age won't be visible on your profile, to friends or to other people on Facebook.
Is this the same as confirming my identity?
No. Identity and account recovery checks are a separate Help article and process, and can involve documents that show your name rather than your age.
