Ofcom sets out age verification rules for UK social media ban

UK communications regulator Ofcom has set out recommendations to verify that social media users in the United Kingdom are aged 16 or over, BBC News reported. The proposed measures include photo and digital identification, banking checks, and facial age estimation technology. [1]

The recommendations aim to support a UK social media ban scheduled to come into force in March next year, according to BBC News. Under the law, children under 16 will be blocked from accessing ten of the largest platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. [1]

BBC News reported that many UK adults will also likely need to confirm their age using one of the proposed methods, which remain subject to government approval. The UK government intends to enforce a tougher approach than Australia, where children found ways around a similar ban introduced last year. [1]

The regulatory effort comes amid broader international scrutiny of online platforms. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Meta and Snap are facing a landmark trial in Los Angeles over alleged harms caused to young users, marking the first time Snap has faced trial alongside Meta on these claims. [1][3]