UK Study: One-Third of Children Bypass Age Checks

A new study by the UK-based nonprofit Internet Matters has found that about one-third of British children have bypassed online age verification systems introduced under the Online Safety Act, often using simple tricks like drawing mustaches on their faces with eyebrow pencils.

The report, based on surveys of 1,270 children aged 9 to 16 and their parents, revealed that 46 percent of children consider the checks easy to evade, rising to 52 percent among those aged 13 and older. Common methods include entering fake birthdates, cited by 13 percent; using someone else's login or device, reported by 8 to 9 percent; and submitting photos or videos of adults, video game characters, or altered selfies. One mother recounted catching her 12-year-old son drawing a mustache during a facial age estimation scan. "It verified him as 15 years old," she told researchers.

The Online Safety Act, which took effect for certain provisions last year and is enforced by Ofcom, requires platforms to implement age assurance measures to protect children from harmful content. Websites and apps now use tools such as facial scans, government ID uploads, or third-party verification. Major services including...