Technology

Ofcom recommends four age-check methods for under-16 social media ban

Ofcom has set out recommendations as the March ban approaches, and about 150,000 16- and 17-year-olds lack passports or licences.

Updated Oct 29, 2026 · 14:20 UTC2 reports

The short version

Ofcom has set out recommendations for checking whether UK social media users are over 16.[BBC News]
Ofcom says four recommended methods would be highly effective, including photo ID matching and digital ID services.[BBC News]
An under-16 ban on ten major platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat, is due in March next year.[BBC News]
Meta and some other tech companies have called for age verification at device level.[BBC News]

Ofcom has set out recommendations for identifying which UK social media users are aged over 16.[BBC News]
The under-16 ban would stop under-16s accessing ten major platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat, and is due in March next year.[BBC News]
Ofcom recommended four methods beyond traditional ID: photo ID matching, banking-based checks, face age estimation, and digital ID services.[BBC News]
Ofcom CEO Dame Melanie Dawes said the regulator drew on its experience introducing tougher age checks for porn sites last year.[BBC News]
Meta and some other tech companies have called for age verification at device level, with app stores blocking under-age installs.[BBC News]
According to Ofcom, about 150,000 16- and 17-year-olds do not own a passport or driving licence.[The Guardian]

The reporting describes Ofcom's measures as recommendations, so final verification requirements remain unsettled.[The Guardian · BBC News]
Ofcom's view that face age estimation has recently improved is the regulator's own argument and is not independently verified in the reporting.[BBC News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.