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I am required to ask users their DoB, but only for verification purposes, to make sure the user is over 18 years old. This info is one of the 6 things I ask in a Sign Up form to participate in a beta site, so it's a small form.

Because I am slightly reluctant to give a precise date myself, I wonder how necessary the info really is. I would be more comfortable myself picking a month and a year, but no so much a day (security reasons.) However I haven't seen this anywhere, and it feels quite strange.

In short:

Would it make sense / feel okay to ask for MM/YY only instead of DD/MM/YY?

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    Most will lie about their age regardless of whether or not you ask for little or precise information, so just ask for all 3 pieces and say you won’t store the information if you’re so concerned. So on register you confirm they’re above 18 and then your done with that information.
    – Nahydrin
    Commented Oct 19, 2017 at 14:02
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    And because most will lie, I usually give wrong day, and if you really don't use the date of birth for anything else than for verification, you could just ask if the user is over 18. At the same time you get rid of two fields. Or just incorporate verification into the submit button: "I'm over 18 and want to use your site".
    – locationunknown
    Commented Oct 19, 2017 at 14:06
  • That's a good point, I think I will try that and run an A/B test later. Please post it as an answer!
    – Yisela
    Commented Oct 19, 2017 at 14:08

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This doesn't really answer the question whether users are reluctant to give out their date of birth in general. I know I am. I usually give the wrong day.

Instead of asking for a complete date of birth, you could just ask if the user is over 18. If they are willing to lie about their complete date of birth, they will lie about being over 18. In that case it is their risk, not yours. This isn't for a governmental health care application, right?

You also get rid of two fields in the form.

And even better, if you incorporate the verification into the submit button, there are even fewer fields to clutter up the form: "I'm over 18 and want to use your site."

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