New Delhi, August 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp has started testing an optional age-verification feature in India that allows users to submit their date of birth, as the company prepares to comply with upcoming requirements under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, according to a report.
NDTV Profit reported that WhatsApp is testing the feature with a limited group of users after screenshots surfaced online showing a prompt asking users to “Add your date of birth”. The notification reportedly stated that upcoming Indian regulations require the platform to verify users’ age.
A WhatsApp spokesperson confirmed the development, saying, “To comply with upcoming laws in India like the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, we are testing privacy-protective ways for people to confirm their age.”
The company clarified that the feature is currently optional and users will not be required to share their date of birth to continue using WhatsApp during the testing phase.
“This doesn’t change how WhatsApp works or your experience. We understand that information about someone’s age is private and it won’t be shared with other WhatsApp users,” the spokesperson said, according to the report.
The testing comes as India moves towards implementing provisions of the DPDP Act, which require digital platforms handling children’s personal data to adopt mechanisms for age verification and determine whether a user is below 18 years of age.
The move also comes amid increased regulatory attention on Meta’s operations in India.
Earlier this week, Meta issued an apology after temporarily restricting a Facebook post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi related to examination paper leaks.
Separately, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has asked WhatsApp to postpone the launch of its username feature, which would allow users to connect without sharing their mobile numbers. The ministry reportedly raised concerns over possible misuse, impersonation and digital fraud linked to the feature.
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