Ofcom Recommends Age Verification Methods for UK Social Media Ban on Under-16s

Ofcom's Age Verification Recommendations

Ofcom has published its recommendations for effective age verification methods in the UK. These methods are intended to identify social media users aged 16 and over, in preparation for a new ban preventing under-16s from accessing ten major social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. The ban is scheduled to take effect in March next year.

Proposed Verification Methods

To address the challenge of verifying ages, especially for 16 and 17-year-olds who may lack traditional identification, Ofcom has suggested four "highly effective" methods. These include photo ID matching, where a live image is compared against a photo ID document; banking-based checks, utilizing age information held by financial institutions; face age estimation technology, which Ofcom notes has improved; and digital ID services, allowing users to digitally prove their age.

Implementation and Responsibility

While these recommendations are subject to government approval, the responsibility for implementing age checks will fall on social network providers. Ofcom's CEO, Dame Melanie Dawes, stated that the regulator's approach is informed by its experience with age checks for porn sites, emphasizing that companies should implement solutions that work for them while preserving privacy and protecting data. This approach contrasts with more prescriptive methods used in other countries.

Context and Precedent

A similar ban was introduced in Australia last year, but children there found ways to circumvent it. The UK intends to adopt a tougher stance. The proposed measures will likely require many UK adults to also confirm their age to access these platforms.