UK sets out age verification plans for under-16s social media ban

Key facts

• Ofcom has proposed four age verification methods for social media platforms.
• The proposed methods include photo ID, banking checks, facial age estimation, and digital ID.
• The ban will affect ten major social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
• The UK ban on social media for under-16s is due to take effect in March 2027.

The UK's regulator, Ofcom, has detailed its proposed methods for verifying users' ages to enforce an upcoming ban on social media access for individuals under 16. The ban, slated to begin in March 2027, will restrict access to ten prominent platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Ofcom's recommendations, which require government approval, encompass photo ID matching, banking record checks, facial age estimation technology, and digital identity verification. These measures aim to protect young users from harmful online content, drawing lessons from Australia's earlier ban, which proved difficult for children to circumvent. Tech companies will be responsible for implementing these checks, though Ofcom acknowledges that complete prevention of circumvention is not guaranteed.