How to Implement Biometric Age Verification in 30 Minutes

You know you need better age verification. But the thought of implementing complex biometric systems sounds like a nightmare. Good news: with App Bouncer, you can add real age verification to your app in about 30 minutes.

This guide walks you through the entire process, from sign-up to production deployment. No PhD in computer vision required.

30 min

Total Integration Time

5 steps

Simple Process

98.7%

Accuracy Rate

What You'll Need

📋 Prerequisites

1. An App Bouncer account (free to create)

2. Your app's codebase with API integration capability

3. About 30 minutes of your time

Step 1: Get Your API Credentials (5 minutes)

First, sign up for a free App Bouncer account:

Visit appbouncer.com and click "Get Started Free"
Complete the registration form
Verify your email address
Navigate to your dashboard and find your API key

🔐 Security First

Your API key is like a password—keep it secret! Always store it in environment variables and never commit it to version control or share it publicly.

Step 2: Install the SDK (2 minutes)

We provide SDKs for major platforms. Choose yours:

JavaScript/TypeScript

npm install @appbouncer/sdk

Python

pip install appbouncer

Ruby

gem install appbouncer

Or use our REST API directly if you prefer another language.

Step 3: Initialize the Client (3 minutes)

Import the SDK and initialize it with your API key:

import { AppBouncer } from '@appbouncer/sdk'

const bouncer = new AppBouncer({
  apiKey: process.env.APP_BOUNCER_API_KEY
})

Step 4: Trigger Verification (10 minutes)

When a user attempts to access age-restricted content, trigger the verification:

async function verifyUserAge(userId) {
  try {
    const result = await bouncer.verifyAge({
      userId: userId,
      redirectUrl: 'https://yourapp.com/verification-complete'
    })

    // Send user to verification flow
    window.location.href = result.verificationUrl
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Verification failed:', error)
    // Handle error appropriately
  }
}

The user will be redirected to a secure verification page where they'll use their camera for age verification. The entire process takes about 10 seconds for the user.

Step 5: Handle the Response (5 minutes)

After verification, the user returns to your redirect URL. You'll receive a verification token:

async function handleVerificationComplete(token) {
  try {
    const result = await bouncer.getVerificationResult(token)

    if (result.isVerified && result.ageEstimate >= 18) {
      // Grant access
      grantAccess(result.userId)
    } else {
      // Deny access
      showAgeRestrictedMessage()
    }
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Failed to get verification result:', error)
  }
}

Step 6: Store the Result (5 minutes)

Store the verification status in your database so users don't need to verify every time:

await database.users.update({
  userId: result.userId,
  ageVerified: true,
  verifiedAt: new Date(),
  verificationId: result.verificationId
})

Best Practices

💡 Implementation Tips

1. Handle Errors Gracefully: Network issues happen. Always provide fallback messaging and retry options.

2. Don't Store Biometric Data: App Bouncer doesn't send you biometric data, and you shouldn't store any either. Just store the verification result.

3. Test in Sandbox Mode: Use sandbox mode during development. It returns mock results without requiring actual face verification.

4. Provide Clear User Communication: Explain why age verification is necessary and how the process works. Transparency builds trust.

Common Issues and Solutions

🔧 Troubleshooting Guide

Issue: Users complain about camera access
Solution: Clearly explain that the verification happens on App Bouncer's secure servers, not your app, and no images are stored.

Issue: Verification fails in poor lighting
Solution: Provide guidance before verification starts about optimal lighting conditions.

Issue: Token expires before user returns
Solution: Tokens are valid for 1 hour. If expired, simply trigger a new verification.

Next Steps

Congratulations! You've implemented biometric age verification. Here's what to do next:

Test thoroughly in sandbox mode
Review our compliance documentation
Deploy to production
Monitor your verification rates in the dashboard

Questions? Our support team is available 24/7 through the dashboard chat.