Ofcom Sets Out UK Social Media Age Checks as EU Pauses National Bans

Ofcom has identified four methods capable of providing “highly effective” age checks ahead of the UK’s planned ban on social media access for under-16s, due to take effect in March 2027.

The regulator’s assessment, published on October 29, names photo ID matching, banking checks, digital ID services, and facial age estimation. Photo ID matching compares an identity document with a live image, while banking checks use age information held by a financial institution, with the user’s consent.

Facial age estimation would need safeguards for users close to the threshold. Ofcom recommends a “challenge age” approach, requiring additional verification where an estimate does not confidently establish that someone is old enough.

Social media companies would remain responsible for implementing effective checks, even if app stores introduce their own controls. Many adults could also be asked to prove their age, although platforms may already hold sufficiently reliable information for some existing users.

Ofcom said checks must protect privacy and acknowledged that some children would still bypass restrictions. Chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes said the regulator would be ready to take “swift and firm action against any company that fails to comply”.

The government intends to set out detailed rules before the end of 2026, after which Ofcom will consult on implementation guidance.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has announced a 12-month standstill for draft national laws overlapping with its proposed EU Kids Act. This affects Austria’s planned restrictions for under-14s. The EU proposal would generally bar social media access for under-13s and allow independently managed accounts from 15, subject to negotiations with member states and the European Parliament.