UK regulator warns 100,000 teens may lack ID needed for social media ban

A new assessment by the UK's online watchdog reveals a potential gap in the upcoming social media age ban. More than 100,000 British teenagers between the ages of 16 and 17 do not possess a passport or driving license. These documents are likely to serve as the primary proof of age required to access platforms currently restricted to users over 16.

The ban, modeled on Australian rules, is scheduled to take effect in the spring of next year. It will prohibit under-16s from using services such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Ofcom identified four methods for age verification, including matching official ID with a live selfie and bank account checks. However, the regulator noted that facial age estimation, a method already used for adult sites, can be inaccurate by several years. Therefore, an official photo ID will likely be needed as a final check, or backstop, to ensure accuracy.

The timeline for this regulatory shift began in December of last year, when Australia implemented a similar ban. By March, Australia's eSafety commissioner reported that a substantial portion of under-16s had bypassed the new rules. A survey of 900 parents in that country found that 31% said their children still maintained social media accounts after the ban, a drop from the 49% reported before the legislation took effect.

Melanie Dawes, the head of Ofcom, acknowledged that motivated children would attempt to circumvent the UK restrictions. She compared the situation to alcohol laws, noting that they do not completely stop underage drinking but do mitigate risk. Dawes described the change as a huge cultural shift for UK society that will require time for adjustment.

Currently, more than nine out of 10 Britons over the age of 16 hold either a passport or a driving license. The regulator stated that those without photo ID will likely need to take steps to obtain one to maintain access to age-restricted services. The government has not finalized which specific platforms will fall under the ban, though it is expected to mirror the Australian list, which includes Facebook, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, and X.

The government is expected to introduce regulations confirming the ban by the end of this year. Following that, Ofcom will open a consultation period to determine the best age verification methods before issuing official guidance on which specific measures platforms must adopt.