Man, the whole internet became progressively "Well, we fucked up this platform, so let's put the burden on the users instead of dealing with the core issues".

It's nothing but putting a fake ass band aid over a whole body that bleeds so they can claim "yo we're doing our part to prevent online bully/exposure/whatever :)) Every single system these companies come up with will give birth to more problems in the long run.

I don't mean Steam only, Electronic Arts has no public, easily accessible channels on their website at all. If you lose access to your account, well, good luck getting support because you need to be logged into your account for that. Ubisoft conceals their support agents' name, to avoid individual liability. Epic games owns artstation, which has zero support channels that do not lead to a "uh oh this page doesn't exist". I can just go on. These companies are breaking consumer protection laws so blatantly, every single day I'm filing another complaint against them through judicial bodies. I wish more people were doing it, that was the only way I hear back from these companies and rectify their wrongdoing when they see somebody actually filed a complaint against them and they will be fucking fined for what they're doing. If anyone interested, I can make a guideline how to file complaints against them through EU and the states organs, it's fucking free, and doesn't take so much time. Better than screaming at the void and expecting something to change.

.

This is fucked. I don’t have a steam account, but my kids do.

Two of the three are 18+, but don’t have a credit card. I do, but obviously they can’t link mine.

Notwithstanding that the age verification laws are performative bullshit, how the fuck is it reasonable to only accept one form of ID that is not universally accepted? If you are going to force this shit onto people, at least mandate a wide variety of acceptable ID’s. For example, in Australia, you can get an 18+ card.

Also, don’t fuck the web for the kids and then exclude the kids.

While there are flaws with using credit card verification it is actually a better option than government issued ID or facial verification.

A credit card expires. It can be cancelled. Your personally identifiable information- from your government issued ID does not.

There are strict regulations around how companies can handle credit card data and unless Valve want problems with payment processors they will follow these rules to the letter.

This is specifically for 18+ content which I'm assuming is just porn and not M rated games or whatever system they use in Australia.

My debit card (I don't have a credit card) won't remove the age restriction, and there are no other ways to verify, not even my 20 year old PayPal already attached to Steam.

I have games in my library I can no longer see the store page for. :/

captlism.jpg

Piracy is back boys!

Keep in mind this can't be bypassed via vpn