Age-checking methods for under-16s social media ban set out

Ofcom has outlined its recommended methods for effectively verifying the ages of social media users across the UK, as part of plans to enforce an upcoming age restriction. From March next year, UK users under 16 will be barred from accessing major platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat under the UK’s new social media ban. The government must approve the proposed verification techniques, which are designed not only to block under-16s but also to require older users to confirm their age.

The challenge with age verification, particularly for those aged 16 and 17, lies in the fact that many in this group lack standard forms of official ID like driving licences, credit cards, or passports, and their appearance can be deceptive. To address these difficulties, Ofcom has recommended several methods in addition to traditional identification, which it believes would reliably assess a user’s age. These include matching photo ID against a live image captured during verification checks, using banking data to confirm age, deploying face age estimation technology that has seen recent improvements, and utilizing digital ID services that allow individuals to confirm their identity or age online.

Ofcom’s CEO, Dame Melanie Dawes, highlighted that the regulator is drawing on experience gained from introducing stricter age checks for adult content websites last year. She noted, “What we’ve learned in introducing age checks across the porn industry is that actually what a lot of countries did before us was say you need to do it this way and they were very prescriptive and it didn’t work.” Emphasizing flexibility, Dawes added that providers must implement solutions that ensure privacy and data protection, while deciding for themselves the best approach to age verification. Despite consultation with major UK banks about their potential role in assisting with verification, the ultimate responsibility lies with social media companies to devise and enforce their own systems.

Some technology firms, including Meta, have proposed implementing age verification at the device level. This would involve blocking underage users from installing social media apps directly through platforms like Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store. Apple has already rolled out age verification measures in the UK. However, Ofcom maintains that even if such device-level checks are introduced, social media platforms must still carry out their own verification. Although there is no exact count yet, Ofcom expects a significant number of adult users will still be required to prove their age. The regulator acknowledges that it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of children circumventing these checks. Dame Melanie Dawes envisaged a collaborative effort, stating, “At Ofcom, what we will do is make sure that the services that the social media companies put in the checks that they need to… I actually think the real prize here is going to be for today’s eight to 10-year-olds entering secondary school without it being the norm to go on Snap in your class group chat, without it being the norm to have all your sports fixtures organised on Instagram.” Ofcom’s report on age verification is now awaiting government consideration, with a decision expected before the end of the year

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