Ofcom says 150,000 British teens lack ID for social media ban

Ofcom has warned that approximately 150,000 British teenagers aged 16 and 17 do not possess a passport or driving license, which are likely required to access social media platforms once the new under-16 ban begins. The regulator’s assessment suggests that more than 100,000 of these young people could be locked out of services such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube if they cannot provide official photo identification.

The ban, modeled on Australian legislation, is scheduled to take effect next spring. It will restrict access to social media services for users under the age of 16. While the UK government has not finalized the exact list of covered platforms, it is expected to mirror the Australian scope, which includes Facebook, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, Twitch, and X.

Ofcom published an evaluation of age verification measures on Thursday, identifying four methods as highly effective. These include matching official ID to a live selfie, bank account verification, the use of a digital ID service like the Young Scot card, and facial age estimation. The regulator noted that facial age estimation, already used for over-18 porn site access in the UK, may be adopted by social media platforms.

However, Ofcom stated that official ID will likely serve as a backstop for other methods. Facial age estimation can be inaccurate by several years, creating a risk that 16 and 17-year-olds might be incorrectly classified as under-16. The regulator said people without photo ID will likely need to obtain one to maintain access to age-restricted services.

Melanie Dawes, the chief executive of Ofcom, acknowledged that some children will attempt to bypass the restrictions, similar to trends in Australia. She described the change as a huge cultural shift for the UK. Dawes noted that while motivated children will seek workarounds, platforms will have ways to mitigate the risk.

In Australia, the eSafety commissioner reported in March that a substantial proportion of under-16s had flouted the ban since its introduction in December last year. A survey of 900 parents found that 31% said their children still held social media accounts after the ban, down from 49% before the laws were enacted.

The UK government expects to introduce regulations confirming the ban by the end of this year. Ofcom will also open a consultation on the best age verification methods before issuing official guidance on which measures to adopt.