Ofcom Proposes Age Verification Methods for Social Media Ban
Ofcom recommended four age-verification methods for a social media ban on users under 16 scheduled to take effect in March 2027.
The UK communications regulator Ofcom has proposed four highly effective age-verification methods to support a social media ban for users under 16. Scheduled for March 2027, the ban will target ten of the largest platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. The proposed methods include photo ID matching against live images, banking-based record checks, face age estimation technology, and digital ID services.
Ofcom maintains that social network providers are responsible for their own checks, rejecting suggestions from companies like Meta that verification should occur at the device level via app stores. The regulator acknowledges that some children will likely bypass these restrictions, noting that the risk of circumvention cannot be entirely eliminated.
Reactions to the proposal are mixed. The NSPCC welcomed the guidance, emphasizing the need to accurately identify child users. Conversely, the Molly Rose Foundation expressed doubt regarding the ban's success, citing Ofcom's enforcement record and similar initiatives in Australia. The proposal now awaits government approval, with a final decision expected by the end of the year.
