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Will Epic Games Ask for Your SSN? Unpacking the Truth About Verification

The short answer is: potentially, but not necessarily. While Epic Games might request a Social Security Number (SSN) for adult verification purposes, it’s crucial to understand the context and alternatives available. The SSN request is primarily tied to ensuring a user is indeed an adult, a practice driven by concerns over child safety and compliance with regulations like COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act). However, it’s not the only method they employ, and its availability is largely dependent on your geographic location. Let’s delve deeper into why this is the case and what your options are.

Understanding the Context: Why Age Verification Matters

The digital landscape presents unique challenges in protecting younger users. Games like Fortnite, with its massive popularity among children and teenagers, attract significant scrutiny regarding their responsibility to safeguard these players. Age verification is a critical component of this responsibility. It helps Epic Games ensure that:

Minors access age-appropriate content: Games often have content that is not suitable for younger audiences. Verification helps restrict access to such content.
Children’s privacy is protected: Laws like COPPA impose strict rules on how companies can collect and use data from children under 13. Age verification is crucial for compliance.
Parental consent is obtained when necessary: For users under a certain age, usually 13 or the digital age of consent in their country, parental consent is required to access certain features and services.

The Role of SuperAwesome

To navigate the complex landscape of age verification, Epic Games has partnered with SuperAwesome, a leading platform specializing in parental consent and age verification solutions. SuperAwesome offers various methods for confirming a user’s age, depending on their country of residence. This is where the SSN comes into play.

SSN as a Verification Method: Pros and Cons

The SSN, particularly in the United States, is often used as a reliable form of identification. For Epic Games, using an SSN can provide a relatively irrefutable proof of age. However, this method raises significant concerns:

Privacy Risks: Sharing your SSN online is inherently risky. Data breaches and identity theft are serious threats.
Limited Applicability: SSNs are primarily relevant in the US, making this verification method unsuitable for a global audience.
User Resistance: Many people are hesitant to share their SSN due to privacy concerns, which can create friction for Epic Games.

Alternative Verification Methods

Given the downsides of using SSNs, Epic Games, through SuperAwesome, offers a range of alternative verification methods. These may include:

Credit or Debit Card Verification: This method verifies age by confirming the user is old enough to possess a credit or debit card. Neither Epic Games nor SuperAwesome stores credit or debit card details. The information is solely used for verification purposes.
Government-Issued ID: Some regions may allow users to upload a copy of their driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued ID. The platform typically utilizes secure methods to process and dispose of this information.
Facial Scanning: This method utilizes facial recognition technology to estimate the user’s age. It often requires parental consent and guarantees that no facial data is stored after the verification process.
Mobile Phone Verification: This method sends a one-time code to a user’s mobile phone to verify their identity.

The availability of these methods varies depending on your location. Epic Games’ partnership with SuperAwesome allows them to tailor their verification approach to comply with local regulations and preferences.

Is Epic Games Risky? Addressing Security Concerns

The question of “Is Epic Games Risky?” is valid, given the data breaches and security concerns that plague the gaming industry. While Epic Games takes measures to protect user data, no online platform is entirely immune to risks. By following best practices, such as enabling Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), using strong passwords, and being wary of phishing scams, you can significantly reduce your risk. The article also mentioned that Epic Games Store has very aggressive, anti-consumer business practices and a poorly put-together digital storefront. However, there are only opinions.

Why Parents Are Suing Epic Games

It’s important to acknowledge the lawsuits against Epic Games, primarily from parents alleging that their children developed addictions to Fortnite. These suits highlight the potential negative impacts of online gaming and the responsibility of game developers to mitigate these risks. While age verification is not a direct solution to addiction, it helps ensure that parents have greater control over their children’s access to the game and its features. You can learn more about the impact of games on youth development from organizations like the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Their research provides valuable insights into the educational and social aspects of gaming.

The Importance of Parental Controls

Whether or not Epic Games asks for your SSN, parental controls are crucial for managing your child’s gaming experience. Epic Games provides tools that allow parents to:

Set spending limits
Restrict access to certain games and content
Monitor playtime
Manage communication features

Using these tools empowers parents to create a safer and more balanced gaming environment for their children.

Conclusion

While Epic Games might request an SSN for age verification, it’s not the only option, and its availability depends on your location. The company prioritizes user safety and offers alternative verification methods through its partnership with SuperAwesome. Being informed about the reasons behind age verification and the various methods available allows you to make responsible choices and protect your privacy while enjoying games like Fortnite.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does Fortnite require SSN?

No, Fortnite does not necessarily require an SSN. Epic Games may request it for adult verification purposes, but alternative methods are usually available, depending on your region.

2. Fortnite deleting accounts unless players use Social Security or credit card numbers for verification. Is it True?

This is a misleading statement. Epic Games will not automatically delete accounts simply for not providing an SSN or credit card. They might require age verification to access certain features, and if you cannot verify your age through available methods, you may have limited access.

3. Is Epic Games parental permission legit?

Yes! Epic Games parental permission through SuperAwesome is a legitimate process. It’s designed to comply with COPPA and other regulations, ensuring that parents have control over their children’s accounts and access to features.

4. What is SSN in Epic Games?

SSN in Epic Games is one of the methods used to verify the age of an account holder, especially when parental consent is required. It’s used as irrefutable proof of age to ensure an adult is creating the account.

5. Do you have to be 18 to have an Epic Games account?

Not necessarily. If a player indicates they are under 13 (or the digital consent age in their country), their account will be a Cabined Account and they will be asked to provide a parent or guardian’s email address in order to receive consent.

6. Why does Fortnite want my SSN?

Fortnite, through Epic Games, might want your SSN to verify you are an adult for regulatory compliance and safety reasons.

7. Is Epic Games verification legit?

Yes, Epic Games verification through SuperAwesome is legit. They use various methods to confirm your age or parental consent.

8. Does Epic Games take your information?

Epic Games collects personal information for business purposes. However, according to their privacy policy, they do not sell your personal information.

9. Why is Epic Games asking for social?

“Social” usually refers to social media accounts. Epic Games may ask to link your social media accounts for features like finding friends or sharing game progress. However, it’s crucial to review the permissions you grant to Epic Games when linking your social media.

10. Why is SSN so sensitive?

The SSN is sensitive because it’s a unique identifier that can be used to access personal information, including financial records, medical history, and more, making it a prime target for identity theft.

11. Is Epic ID important?

The EPIC Identification Form (EIF) is required by ECFMG to confirm that you are the individual who created the EPIC Account, if you are using it for that purpose.

12. Why is Epic asking for date of birth?

Epic asks for your date of birth to help you have a safe and fun experience whatever your age. This is used for parental control purposes, compliance regulations, and age rating restrictions.

13. Can you decline a SSN?

Yes, you can decline to provide your SSN. However, the requesting entity may refuse its services if you do not provide it. In the case of Epic Games, you may be limited to which features you have access to.

14. What information does Epic collect?

Epic collects payment information, mailing address, telephone number, personal information, and date of birth.

15. Can your epic account get hacked?

Yes, your Epic account can get hacked, but Epic advises all its players to turn on 2FA to add an additional layer of protection to their accounts.

Will Epic Games ask for SSN?