Ofcom proposes age-check methods for UK under-16 social media ban

Ofcom has recommended four methods it considers highly effective for checking users’ ages ahead of a UK ban on under-16s using major social media platforms, due to take effect in March next year. Platforms would choose how to implement checks, while the government considers the recommendations; Ofcom says some children may still bypass them.

• Ofcom recommended photo ID matching, checks using banking records, facial age estimation and digital ID services as highly effective age-check options.· 1 source
• The ban is due to come into force in March next year and would prevent under-16s from accessing ten major platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.· 1 source
• Ofcom says social media providers must develop and implement their own compliant checks; its recommendations are subject to government approval, with a decision due by the end of the year.· 1 source
• Ofcom acknowledges that age checks cannot eliminate circumvention, and some children may get around them.· 1 source
• Meta has advocated age checks at device or app-store level, while Ofcom says that would not remove social media providers’ responsibility to check users.· 1 source