Enforcement of the UK's upcoming ban on social media for under-16s will probably require older teenagers to show photo ID, according to the UK's online safety regulator Ofcom, which said the risk of circumvention cannot be entirely eliminated.
In a government-commissioned report, Ofcom said it had identified just four methods that are “highly effective” at determining whether a user is 16 or over, while noting that “the risk of circumvention cannot be entirely eliminated, and some children will succeed in bypassing age checks.”
The advice comes after the UK government vowed to take a tougher approach than Australia to enforcing its ban, due to come into force next year, by requiring platforms to use “highly effective age assurance” to identify underage users. It will inform regulations to implement the ban which ministers have said they aim to introduce to parliament this year.
Three of the methods identified by Ofcom, photo ID matching, using a digital ID service, or banking-based checks, require a passport or driving license at some stage, while the fourth, facial age estimation, may in some cases need to be followed by a supplementary check using one of the other methods because of a high margin of error at younger ages.
“This ban will shape the future of children’s lives online, so it’s important to get it right,” Ofcom CEO Melanie Dawes said.
While the age checks would involve processing of personal data, “available methods can be delivered in a way that protects users’ privacy and complies with data protection law,” Ofcom said.
It also said social media platforms should take steps to mitigate circumvention, like enabling users to report suspected underage accounts, and using age inference technology to spot activity from users who may be underage. The regulator said it will consult on further guidance for platforms once regulations to implement the social media ban are laid.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The ban will affect millions of under-16s and requires them to prove their age, likely with photo ID, raising questions about privacy and access for teens without passports or driving licenses.
- Ofcom's warning that some children will still bypass checks suggests the ban's effectiveness may be limited, creating a potential gap between policy and enforcement.
- The UK's approach, described as tougher than Australia's, sets a precedent for how other countries may regulate social media access for minors.
Background
The UK government has committed to banning under-16s from social media, with enforcement due next year. Ofcom, the online safety regulator, was commissioned to advise on how platforms can determine user ages accurately and privately.
Key Perspectives
Ofcom: has identified four methods (photo ID, digital ID, banking checks, facial age estimation) as “highly effective” but acknowledges that “the risk of circumvention cannot be entirely eliminated, and some children will succeed in bypassing age checks.”
Melanie Dawes (Ofcom CEO): “This ban will shape the future of children’s lives online, so it’s important to get it right.”
UK government: has vowed to take a tougher approach than Australia to enforcing the ban and aims to introduce regulations to parliament this year.
What to Watch
- Timing of the draft regulations being laid before parliament, expected this year.
- Ofcom's forthcoming consultation on further guidance for platforms.
- How social media companies respond to the requirement to use “highly effective age assurance” and implement mitigation measures.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe UK social media ban for under-16s will likely require older teenagers to show photo ID, according to Ofcom.Politico Europe: “Enforcement of the U.K.’s upcoming social media ban for under-16s will probably require older teens to show a form of photo ID, according to the U.K.’s online safety regulator Ofcom.”
- SupportedOfcom identified four age-check methods it considers “highly effective”.Politico Europe: “Ofcom said it had identified just four methods that are “highly effective” at determining whether a user is 16 or over”
- SupportedOfcom warned that some children will succeed in bypassing age checks.Politico Europe: ““the risk of circumvention cannot be entirely eliminated, and some children will succeed in bypassing age checks.””
- SupportedThe UK government vowed to take a tougher approach than Australia to enforcing the ban.Politico Europe: “The advice comes after the U.K. government vowed to take a tougher approach than Australia to enforcing its ban”
- SupportedThe ban is due to come into force next year, and platforms will be required to use “highly effective age assurance” to identify underage users.Politico Europe: “due to come into force next year — by requiring platforms to use “highly effective age assurance” to identify underage users.”
- SupportedMinisters aim to introduce regulations implementing the ban to parliament this year.Politico Europe: “It will inform regulations to implement the ban which ministers have said they aim to introduce to parliament this year.”
- SupportedThree of the methods require a passport or driving licence at some stage.Politico Europe: “Three of the methods identified by Ofcom — photo ID matching, using a digital ID service, or banking-based checks — require a passport or driving license at some stage”
- SupportedFacial age estimation may need a supplementary check in some cases because of a high margin of error at younger ages.Politico Europe: “facial age estimation, may in some cases need to be followed by a supplementary check using one of the other methods because of a high margin of error at younger ages.”
- SupportedOfcom CEO Melanie Dawes said, “This ban will shape the future of children’s lives online, so it’s important to get it right.”Politico Europe: ““This ban will shape the future of children’s lives online, so it’s important to get it right,” Ofcom CEO Melanie Dawes said.”
- SupportedOfcom said available age-check methods can protect users’ privacy and comply with data-protection law.Politico Europe: ““available methods can be delivered in a way that protects users’ privacy and complies with data protection law,” Ofcom said.”
- SupportedOfcom said platforms should let users report suspected underage accounts and use age-inference technology to spot potentially underage users.Politico Europe: “like enabling users to report suspected underage accounts, and using age inference technology to spot activity from users who may be underage.”
- SupportedOfcom will consult on further platform guidance once the implementing regulations are laid.Politico Europe: “The regulator said it will consult on further guidance for platforms once regulations to implement the social media ban are laid.”