ID Verification
What we do now
neurobetter currently carries out age assurance to verify whether users are over or under 18. This is a legal requirement under the Online Safety Act 2023, and it helps us protect children from encountering content that may not be appropriate for them.
Age assurance confirms your age band - it does not confirm your identity. At this stage, we do not require members to verify their full identity in order to use our services.
How our community works today
Our Online Community is a space for peer support among neurodivergent people. Currently, all interactions take place in shared community spaces. We do not offer private messaging (sometimes known as direct messaging) between members.
This is a deliberate choice. By keeping conversations in shared spaces, our moderation team can help ensure that interactions remain safe and supportive for everyone.
You do not need to verify your identity to use neurobetter’s services today. Age assurance is the only verification step required when you register as a member.
When we may introduce ID verification
If we introduce private messaging on the community in the future, we will require members to verify their identity before they can send or receive direct messages. This is to keep everyone safe.
Private messaging creates a different risk profile to public community conversations. Without the visibility that shared spaces provide, there is a greater potential for harmful behaviour. ID verification would help us to confirm that members are who they say they are, act as a deterrent against misuse, respond effectively to reports of harmful behaviour, and meet our safeguarding obligations.
We will always give members clear notice before introducing any new verification requirements. No one will be asked to verify their identity without understanding why, and any verification process will follow the same privacy principles as our age assurance - collecting the minimum data needed and not storing identity documents. For more information about how we handle personal data, see our Privacy Policy.
Our approach going forward
We will continue to review our plans in this area in line with the growth of our community. Our priority is always to balance safety with privacy, and to make sure that any measures we introduce are proportionate, transparent, and accessible.
If you have questions about ID verification or our plans for the community, please visit our Contact page.
If you have concerns about the safety of a child or vulnerable adult using neurobetter, please contact us immediately at safeguarding@neurobetter.org. In an emergency, call 999. As we collect very limited personal information on individuals, we are unlikely to be able to contact emergency services to support a community member in a time of crisis. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 999 directly.