Restricted Messaging and Age Verification

Some types of messaging content are subject to additional carrier, platform, legal, or industry restrictions. This is especially important for SMS campaigns that include restricted content, age-gated products or services, or links to content that may not be appropriate for all recipients.

DailyStory supports restricted messaging workflows for approved senders, but customers are responsible for understanding when restrictions apply and for ensuring their campaigns comply with applicable laws, carrier rules, platform policies, and industry requirements.

What is restricted messaging?

Restricted messaging refers to SMS or other customer communications that include content, links, products, or services that may require additional controls before the recipient can access the message content. This can include content categories that carriers treat as restricted, regulated, sensitive, or age-gated.

For SMS, restricted content may be blocked by carriers if it is sent directly in a text message or included behind a URL without the appropriate verification flow.

Can I send messages to people under 18?

DailyStory does not determine whether your business may legally message recipients under 18. In general, customers are responsible for ensuring their audience, consent records, content, and sending practices comply with all applicable requirements.

Certain types of restricted or age-gated content may not be appropriate or permitted for recipients under 18. If your campaign includes restricted content, you may need to use age verification, segment your audience, suppress underage contacts, or avoid sending the campaign to recipients whose age cannot be verified.

When age verification may be required

Age verification may be required when a message or linked destination includes content that is restricted, regulated, or intended only for recipients above a certain age. This is common for content categories that carriers or industry rules treat as sensitive.

• Messages that reference age-gated products or services
• Links to restricted content or restricted websites
• Campaigns sent by restricted senders
• Content categories subject to carrier review or additional verification
• Audiences where age eligibility must be confirmed before access

For more information about SMS sender requirements, see 10DLC Registration.

How DailyStory handles restricted SMS content

When an account or message is subject to restricted sending requirements, DailyStory may use a verification workflow instead of sending restricted content directly in the SMS message body.

In this workflow, the recipient receives a notification-style SMS message with a link. When the recipient opens the link, DailyStory can require verification before showing the restricted content. Depending on the configuration and restriction type, this may include age validation or one-time password verification.

This approach helps prevent restricted content from being delivered directly in the SMS message and provides an additional verification step before the recipient accesses the content.

Customer responsibilities

DailyStory provides tools to help manage compliant messaging workflows, but customers remain responsible for their campaigns and audience data.

• Collect and maintain valid opt-in consent before sending marketing messages
• Determine whether content is restricted, regulated, or age-gated
• Segment or suppress contacts who should not receive restricted messages
• Maintain accurate age or date-of-birth data if age-based rules apply
• Avoid sending restricted content directly in SMS message bodies
• Review campaign content, landing pages, and links before sending
• Consult legal or compliance advisors when requirements are unclear

What happens if restricted content is detected?

If restricted content is detected in an SMS message or linked URL, carriers may block delivery. DailyStory may also show warnings, require verification workflows, or limit sending options depending on the account and content type.

Repeated attempts to send restricted content without proper controls may result in carrier blocking or account-level sending restrictions.

Best practices for age-restricted messaging

• Use audience segmentation before sending any restricted or age-gated campaign
• Store birth date or age eligibility only when you have a valid business and compliance reason to do so
• Use verification workflows when required before showing restricted content
• Keep SMS message copy neutral and avoid including restricted content directly in the message body
• Document your consent and eligibility process for internal review
• Test restricted message flows before sending to a live audience