I don't understand why apps need to know anything about a specific age. If we have to go down this road, which I really don't, why can't we just simply have verification whether or not an age fits within a range better yet a category. Yes, age can still be inferred, for example, under 21 or over 21.

I don’t understand how are they even checking the age ??

Age checks are inevitable sadly. No one would tolerate “adult” services and goods rendered directly to children without age check.

The main argument is that there is an assumption this data is not stored in the real world, which is only sometimes true. Some places like airports and some bars scan identification with digital readers whose data is presumably retained. One reason for this is because fake identification is a thing so defense against this converges to the same solution as digital verification.

Imo best to spend energy thinking of the appropriate solution that minimizing privacy violation than conceptual fighting against the idea.

Can't we build a gateway in the internet that detects if someone is a influential CEO or something and just bar access to the internet?

This smells like Soviet Union. The next step will be a requirement to confirm your identity - trying to justify it with a wicked manipulation tactic "we need to know your are not lying when selecting your age". No one asked for it to begin with. Android is normalising totalitarianism and mass spying on citizens, one step at a time. This is a very bad feature and a very bad development.

They want your data.

YOU have become their product.

By the way, this also explains one reason why Google shut down third party access/applications recently on Android. Android (if one uses the Google software) becomes the ultimate spy tool on people. At the same time you see several countries force age sniffing on people - this is the beginning of the end of the free web. It will happen in various steps; the next one is Microsoft adding this to their software.

I find myself stuck on the fence with age checks.

Companies have show that they are incapable or unwilling to address the problems they cause. And market forces are not working to correct things. It’s also pretty obvious that saying “parent should take responsibility” is also not working. Just observe the world around you to know it’s a non starter.

This is where regulation is supposed to come in.

At the same time, companies have shown that they will abuse any personal information that is shared with them and we are now giving them more details about ourselves…