The Newshound

Ofcom warns some children will still bypass next year's under-16s social media ban even with photo ID age checks

Ofcom has identified four age-verification methods — including facial age estimation and bank checks — to keep under-16s off social media from March.
Ofcom has identified four age-verification methods — including facial age estimation and bank checks — to keep under-16s off social media from March.

Ofcom has published a rapid assessment of the methods social media companies can use to reliably bar under-16s from Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and other platforms, with the ban due to come into force in March 2027. The watchdog rated four approaches as "highly effective": photo ID matching, banking-based checks, digital ID services, and facial age estimation technology. Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom's chief executive, warned the ban "will shape the future of children's lives online" but conceded that bypassing it could not be entirely eliminated.

Around 150,000 16 and 17-year-olds hold neither a passport nor a driving licence, complicating age verification.

Ofcom also cautioned that some facial age estimation technology may misread a user's age by several years, which would require those individuals to complete a second-stage check.

Prime minister Andy Burnham is expected to lay formal legislation before parliament this year, ahead of the 2027 rollout.

MoreMetroThe four ways social media platforms can verify ages for millions of usersCity A.M.Millions face ID checks under UK social media ban as Ofcom warns of loopholesThe IndependentSocial media ban for U16s is coming to the UK – here’s how it will workDaily MailUK social media ban plans revealed: How teens can prove their ageThe TelegraphEveryone over 16 may need ID to use social media, Ofcom saysBBC News - TechOfcom outlines ways social media can verify ages of usersLBCOfcom sets out age verification plans ahead of under-18s social media bamDaily RecordOfcom shares age check guidance ahead of UK's under 16s social media banAdvanced TelevisionOfcom sets out age verification options - Advanced TelevisionDeeside.comUnder-16s social media ban: Ofcom sets out how platforms could check users’ age | - Deeside.comwww.ofcom.org.ukRapid assessment of highly effective age assurance at 16 - www.ofcom.org.ukBBCOfcom Guidance on Verifying Ages of Social Media Users
Read today's full feed at The Newshound →