Ofcom warns 150,000 British teens lack ID required for new social media ban
The regulator estimates that without a passport or driving licence, roughly 150,000 16- and 17-year-olds may be excluded from age-restricted platforms starting next spring.
By Yasmin Kovalenko ·
A new social media ban taking effect next spring will require users to prove their age with a passport or driving licence, a requirement that Ofcom says could leave more than 100,000 British teenagers locked out of their preferred apps.
The UK online watchdog estimates that approximately 150,000 16- and 17-year-olds currently do not possess either form of identification. Because these documents are likely to serve as the primary method for accessing age-restricted services, the regulator warns that this demographic may miss out on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Ofcom published an assessment on Thursday outlining four highly effective age verification methods. These include matching official ID to a live selfie, banking verification, digital ID services such as the Young Scot card, and facial age estimation. The regulator noted that while facial estimation is popular, it can be inaccurate by several years, making official ID a necessary backstop for those users.
Melanie Dawes, the head of Ofcom, acknowledged that some users will attempt to circumvent the rules. She compared the upcoming change to Australia’s existing ban, noting that motivated children often find ways around restrictions. Dawes described the implementation as a huge cultural shift for the UK, stating that society will need time to adjust.
The ban is modeled on Australian laws that took effect in December 2024. In March of this year, Australia’s eSafety commissioner reported that a substantial proportion of under-16s had flouted the rules. A survey of 900 Australian parents found that 31% said their children still maintained social media accounts after the ban, down from 49% before the laws were introduced.
The UK government has not yet finalized which specific platforms will be covered, though it is expected to mirror the Australian list, which includes Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, and YouTube. More than nine out of ten Britons over 16 currently hold a passport or driving licence, meaning the majority of the population already meets the identification threshold.
Regulations confirming the ban are expected to be introduced by the end of the year. Ofcom will open a consultation on the best age verification methods before issuing official guidance on which measures platforms must adopt.
Source: The Guardian
