WhatsApp has begun testing an optional age-verification feature for users in India, allowing them to add their date of birth to the app, as the Meta-owned platform moves toward compliance with the country's Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. The development, confirmed by a WhatsApp spokesperson, follows the surfacing of screenshots showing a prompt asking users to 'Add your date of birth', with the platform citing upcoming Indian law as the reason.

What the Feature Does

The feature is currently optional and does not affect access to the messaging service during the testing phase, which is limited to a select group of users. WhatsApp has clarified that the date of birth entered will not be visible to other users on the platform.

'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,' a WhatsApp spokesperson said. The spokesperson added: '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.'

Why the DPDP Act Demands This

The DPDP Act requires platforms that process children's personal data to implement age-verification mechanisms to identify users under 18 years of age. As India moves toward operationalising these provisions, major digital platforms are under pressure to build compliant infrastructure ahead of enforcement. This is one of the first visible steps by a major messaging platform to adapt its product for the Indian regulatory framework.

Broader Regulatory Pressure on Meta

The age-verification test comes at a moment of heightened scrutiny of Meta's operations in India. Earlier this week, the company issued an apology after Facebook temporarily restricted a post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi related to examination paper leaks — an incident that drew significant public attention.

Separately, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has asked WhatsApp to hold off on rolling out its username feature — which would allow users to connect without sharing mobile numbers — citing concerns over impersonation and digital fraud. Together, these developments signal that Meta is navigating an increasingly assertive Indian regulatory environment.

What Comes Next

The testing phase is ongoing and no timeline has been provided for a broader rollout. How WhatsApp handles age data — including storage, verification method, and parental consent flows for minors — will be closely watched by regulators and privacy advocates as the DPDP Act moves closer to full implementation.