The Problem We Saw
Three years ago, we were building a social platform for young creators. We knew we needed age verification, so we did what everyone does: added a birthdate field.
Within weeks, we realized the obvious truth—it wasn't working. Children were lying about their ages by the thousands. We tried stricter validation, better error messages, warnings. Nothing helped.
⚠️ What We Found When Looking for Solutions
Enterprise solutions: Required six-figure contracts
Complex integrations: Would take months to implement
Privacy-invasive methods: Stored biometric data permanently
Document verification: Slow and required manual review
For a small team trying to build something meaningful, none of these options worked.
The First Prototype
We thought: "There has to be a better way." Machine learning for age estimation existed—but it was locked behind expensive enterprise contracts and complex implementations.
💡 Our Vision: What If Age Verification Could Be...
Fast: Verification in under 10 seconds
Easy: Integration with just a few lines of code
Affordable: Free for small teams and startups
Private: No biometric data storage, ever
We built a rough prototype. It wasn't pretty, but it worked. More importantly, it proved the concept: biometric age verification could be accessible.
Early Challenges
Accuracy Across Demographics
Our first model worked well for some groups but not others. Age estimation algorithms can be biased, and we were determined not to ship a biased product.
We spent months collecting diverse training data and testing across age groups, ethnicities, and genders. Today, our accuracy is consistent across all demographics—something we're incredibly proud of.
Privacy Concerns
People were understandably nervous about biometric age verification. "Where do the images go?" "What do you do with facial data?" "Is this being stored?"
We made a core architectural decision: no image storage, ever. Images are processed in real-time and immediately deleted—typically in under one second. We can't access your users' photos because we literally don't have them.
Speed vs. Accuracy
Our goal was verification in under 10 seconds. But accuracy couldn't be sacrificed for speed. We spent countless hours optimizing our models to be both fast and accurate.
Our First Users
We launched a private beta in early 2024. Ten brave teams agreed to try our unproven product.
Their feedback was invaluable:
- "Can you add webhook support?" (We did)
- "The dashboard needs better analytics" (Agreed)
- "Documentation needs more examples" (On it)
- "Can we customize the age threshold?" (Now you can)
Every feature request, bug report, and piece of feedback made App Bouncer better. Those early users shaped the product as much as we did.
Going Public
In July 2024, we opened public access. We honestly didn't know what to expect.
The response exceeded our wildest hopes. Developers from around the world started using App Bouncer. Small indie teams, growing startups, even a few larger companies.
Why We Do This
We could have built a lot of things. Why age verification?
Because it matters.
Children are spending more time online than ever. The internet offers incredible opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection—but also real risks.
Most platforms want to protect children. They truly do. But if the only solutions available are too expensive, too complex, or too invasive, they'll settle for ineffective age gates that don't actually work.
We're building App Bouncer so that every platform—regardless of size or budget—can implement real child protection.
Our Principles
As we've grown, we've stayed committed to core principles:
1. Privacy First
We never store, sell, or share biometric data. Period. This isn't negotiable, even if it limits some features or revenue opportunities.
2. Accessibility
Small teams shouldn't be priced out of child safety. Our free tier ensures anyone can get started.
3. Simplicity
Implementation should take minutes, not months. Complex solutions don't get used.
4. Continuous Improvement
We're never "done." Every version should be faster, more accurate, and easier to use than the last.
What We've Learned
Child Safety is Universal
We have users from 47 countries. Child safety concerns transcend borders, languages, and cultures.
Developers Want to Do the Right Thing
Most developers aren't trying to cut corners on child safety—they just need practical tools.
Small Changes Compound
Every platform that switches from fake birthday fields to real age verification protects thousands of children. Small improvements at scale create massive impact.
What's Next
We're just getting started. Our roadmap includes:
- Native mobile SDKs for iOS and Android
- Document-based verification options
- Enhanced fraud detection
- More language support
- Partnerships with child safety organizations
But the bigger vision? We want to live in a world where effective child protection is the default, not the exception. Where every platform, regardless of size, can easily implement real safeguards.
Thank You
To everyone who's used App Bouncer, provided feedback, filed bug reports, or just believed in what we're building—thank you.
You're not just customers. You're partners in making the internet safer for children. Every verification you process, every child you protect, is a win we share together.
Join Us
Whether you're building the next big platform or a small side project, we'd love to help you implement real age verification.
Check our documentation, create a free account, or reach out with questions. Let's build a safer internet together.