Ofcom identifies four checks for planned under-16 social media restriction

Ofcom has identified four age-check methods it considers highly effective for verifying whether social media users in the UK are at least 16, as the government prepares rules for a planned restriction on under-16s. The options are photo-ID matching, checks against a person’s bank-held age, digital identity services and facial age estimation. Ofcom’s assessment sets out possible approaches for platforms but does not require them to use a particular method. The government is expected to establish formal rules by the end of 2026, ahead of a planned 2027 start. Photo-ID matching compares an identity document, such as a passport or driving licence, with a live image. Bank checks use the age held by a financial institution, while digital ID services verify a person and then confirm their age to other services. Facial age estimation predicts age from an image, but Ofcom says it can be inaccurate by several years near the 16-year threshold and may need to be followed by another check. Ofcom says the risk that young people will bypass age checks cannot be eliminated. It suggests platforms could make it easier to report suspected underage accounts and use online behaviour to estimate a...