Legislators worldwide are striving to safeguard children online, but players of the popular VR game Gorilla Tag are finding innovative ways to bypass age restrictions. Faces of celebrities like Donald Trump, YouTuber Markiplier, and even the Half-Life 3D model are being used to trick the age verification process.
Gorilla Tag is a virtual social world where players control monkey avatars with legless movements using their hands. The game is particularly popular among teens, making it a target for ensuring online safety for minors. Rules vary in different countries and states, forcing developers to navigate a range of norms.
To comply with regulations, the developer Another Axiom has started incorporating the age verification system called k-ID, which uses IP addresses to determine regions and adapts verification procedures based on local laws. In certain countries like the UK, only selfies are required without providing credit card details.
Youthful users are exploiting this loophole in the Gorilla Tag community. Instructions on bypassing the system using IP addresses and a video featuring Markiplier have been circulating. One user even proposed showing the camera a video of the blogger speaking to the camera to pass verification, leading to the method being humorously named the “Markiplier method”.
Other players have taken it a step further. A user managed to pass the face scan by presenting the 3D model G-Man from Half-Life, enjoying newfound fame from the Skibidi Toilet meme. Some even resorted to using an image of Donald Trump. The game’s Discord server is abuzz with discussions on bypassing the system. Some users hope the developers won’t fix the vulnerability, expressing surprise at the company allowing Trump’s face as an option.
Despite no comments from Another Axiom, the FAQ section on the official website emphasizes the company’s commitment to balancing legal requirements and gameplay. K-id acknowledges reports of bypasses and assures constant algorithm updates to enhance accuracy and combat spam.
As the community continues to jest about the situation, the response from children to strict digital controls is both creative and ironic, raising concerns about the reliability of