An Exploration of Graphical Password Authentication for Children

TL;DR

This study evaluates the usability of graphical password schemes for children, comparing performance and preferences with adults, and offers design recommendations for child-friendly authentication methods.

Contribution

It provides an empirical assessment of PassTiles variants for children and highlights differences in memorization strategies between children and adults.

Findings

Children recall distinct object images more successfully.

Both children and adults prefer graphical passwords over traditional schemes.

Password memorization strategies differ significantly between children and adults.

Abstract

In this paper, we explore graphical passwords as a child-friendly alternative for user authentication. We evaluate the usability of three variants of the PassTiles graphical password scheme for children, and explore the similarities and differences in performance and preferences between children and adults while using these schemes. Children were most successful at recalling passwords containing images of distinct objects. Both children and adults prefer graphical passwords to their existing schemes, but password memorization strategies differ considerably between the two groups. Based on our findings, we provide recommendations for designing more child-friendly authentication schemes.