Substack age verification

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digitalkumara

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#323614 22-Dec-2025 11:56

Kia ora koutou

This morning I noticed that Substack is now prompting me to verify my age. It seems to think I am in Australia and am therefore subject to their new laws. I am not usibg a VPN.

Unfortunately their online support isn't helpful - it only explains that Substack has to comply with the new age limit laws in the UK and Australia, but offers no advice for people who are incorrectly being prompted to verify. And in order to log a fault ticket one has to log in, which requires age verification!

I am over 16 lol but don't want to send my details to Substack unnecesarily.

Has anyone else had the same issue?

Christopher.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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#3446353 22-Dec-2025 12:19

Have you tried the support instructions here?

It should at some point contact support and create a ticket.

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freitasm

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#3446354 22-Dec-2025 12:20

Expanding on my previous answer, most companies will use an IP database to determine where you are located. These databases are notoriously out-of-date as soon as they are released, as companies trade IP addresses and take their time to update details, if they ever do.

Contacting support is one way to ensure they look at updating this data.

If you are using the same IP as your post here, then the most recent data shows it in New Zealand.

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digitalkumara

42 posts

Geek

#3446375 22-Dec-2025 14:35

Yes, I tried those instructions but one can't submit a ticket without logging in - which prompts for age verification...

I suspect they see NZ as part of Australia or somethiing equally ridiculous!

digitalkumara

42 posts

Geek

#3446379 22-Dec-2025 14:46

Update: my first attempt was connected via Skinny Broadband, I just tried via Spark Mobile and have the same problem.

Jase2985

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#3446451 22-Dec-2025 16:15

skinny = spark

try a different provider if you can

digitalkumara

42 posts

Geek

#3450061 5-Jan-2026 15:56

Update: I used a VPN to register a new Substack profile so I could report this issue. In case anyone is interested, some of the Substack chatbot responses were: