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Ofcom has outlined its recommendations for the most effective methods to identify whether social media users in the UK are over the age of 16. The UK’s social media ban is scheduled to take effect in March next year, preventing individuals under that age from accessing ten major platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.
Proposed Age Verification Methods
Under the proposed measures, which still require government approval, many UK adults will likely need to confirm they are not underage. Verifying ages below 18 presents a challenge because 16 and 17-year-olds typically lack credit cards or full driving licences, might not possess passports, and can appear significantly older or younger than their actual age. To tackle this, Ofcom has recommended four methods deemed highly effective alongside traditional ID forms:
- Photo ID matching, which compares relevant passport information against a live image captured during the check
- Banking-based checks utilizing information already recorded by financial institutions regarding a user’s age
- Face age estimation technology, which the regulator notes has recently improved
- Digital ID services allowing individuals to digitally prove their identity or provide age-related information
The BBC contacted three major UK banks to ask if they would assist with social media requests for age verification if the measure becomes official.
Tech Company Responsibility and Device-Level Checks
Ultimately, technology companies are responsible for determining how to implement the checks and must devise their own compliant solutions. Ofcom CEO Dame Melanie Dawes told the BBC that the regulator drew on its experience from introducing strict age checks for pornography websites last year. She stated that what many countries previously did by prescribing a single method did not work, emphasizing that the chosen solutions must preserve privacy and protect user data while allowing companies to implement what works for them.
Some tech firms, including Meta, have advocated for age verification at the device level to automatically block underage users from installing social media applications through app stores. This approach would shift responsibility to Apple and Google, who operate the majority of global smartphones, with Apple having already introduced age checks in the UK. However, Ofcom stated that this would not exempt social network providers from conducting their own checks.
Implementation and Future Outlook
While Ofcom did not provide a precise figure for how many adults will need to prove they are not underage, the regulator acknowledged that social media companies will need to handle a large number of accounts. Ofcom also admitted that the risk of circumvention cannot be entirely eliminated and some children will manage to bypass the age checks.
Dawes told BBC News that making the ban successful will require a collective effort, noting that Ofcom’s role is ensuring social media companies implement necessary checks. She added that the ultimate benefit will be for current eight to ten-year-olds entering secondary school without the expectation of using group chats on Snapchat or organizing sports fixtures on Instagram.
The UK government will now review Ofcom’s age verification report, with a final decision expected by the end of the year.
