Investigating the Accessibility and Usability of Multi-factor Authentication for Young People

The rapid growth of young online users requires greater attention to balancing security needs with age-appropriate user experiences. Despite the well-publicised benefits of multi-factor authentication (MFA), uptake amongst this group remains low. This study examines young people’s interaction with MFA methods to inform inclusive design for online security. We present an evaluation involving 19 participants aged 10–14, assessing the accessibility and usability of six MFA methods within an Android mobile application. While traditional methods such as numerical MFA and push authenticators demonstrated high accuracy and faster completion times, the participants favoured the more novel MFA of copying a drawing. This highlights the need to balance speed with a positive user experience, mainly when promoting the uptake of good practices amongst young people. The findings emphasise the potential for incorporating secure practices like MFA into platforms targeting children, contributing to building secure online habits from a young age.