Key facts
- Around 1% of children use VPNs to access age-restricted content, according to VPN providers.
- A survey found 14% of children used a VPN in the past year, with 5% using it for circumvention.
- Most young VPN users prioritize privacy and online security.
- Parents frequently purchase VPN subscriptions for children.
- The UK government is finalizing enforcement rules for its under-16 social media ban.
- Tech secretary Liz Kendall acknowledged children will attempt to bypass the ban.
Ahead of the UK government's announcement on enforcing its ban on under-16s accessing major social media platforms, research commissioned by the VPN Trust Initiative suggests that only a small fraction of children use virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent age restrictions.
The survey found that approximately 1% of children use VPNs specifically to bypass age checks, with 5% using them for any form of circumvention. The majority of young VPN users, around 61%, utilize the technology for privacy, and nearly a third for online security, particularly on public Wi-Fi.
Mark Andrijanik, cybersecurity adviser at NordVPN, stated that data consistently shows a minimal use of VPNs for circumventing age restrictions, contrary to public debate. He noted that parents often purchase VPN subscriptions, viewing them as cybersecurity tools rather than means to bypass rules.
Tech secretary Liz Kendall acknowledged that children will attempt to circumvent the ban, referencing Australia's experience. However, VPN providers argue that focusing enforcement on them could push users toward less secure, free services outside UK jurisdiction. Instead, they suggest app stores and device providers like Apple and Google should verify user ages before app downloads.
Chris Field, chief marketing officer at Yoti, indicated that regulators will likely assess platforms on the effectiveness of their overall age assurance systems, rather than focusing on a single technology. This research aligns with findings from Ofcom, Internet Matters, Childnet, and Australia's eSafety Commissioner.