Ofcom names 4 age checks for the under-16 social media ban
Photo ID, bank checks, digital ID and face scans could show that a user is 16 or over. Teenagers without photo ID may need to get one before the ban starts in spring 2027.
Ofcom said on 29 October 2026 that four kinds of age check can reliably tell whether a social media user is 16 or over.
The regulator's rapid assessment names photo ID matching, banking checks, digital ID services and facial age estimation. The government asked for it before setting the rules for its ban on social media for under-16s.
This ban will shape the future of children’s lives online, so it’s important to get it right.
Ofcom said a face scan can be wrong by a few years at 16. People who look close to the limit should get a second check. Its example is a second check for anyone who looks under 19.
Ofcom said 16 and 17 year olds are more likely than adults to need photo ID, because every method at 16 uses it or falls back on it. It cited an estimate, from a survey in schools that was not representative, that about 150,000 of them have neither a passport nor a driving licence. The law firm Osborne Clarke noted that Ofcom found credit card, mobile phone and email checks not good enough at 16.
Online safety minister Ian Murray told MPs on 2 November that the first regulations will be laid before Parliament's Christmas recess. The ban would start in spring 2027. He said the regulations will not name platforms.
The government's fact sheet says the UK will follow Australia's model, which covered YouTube among other platforms. It also says dedicated educational platforms that support schoolwork and learning will not be covered.
Pupils and parents need do nothing yet, the government says. A 16 or 17 year old without a passport or driving licence can apply for a PASS proof of age card. Ofcom said some are free for this age group.
Which platforms the ban covers is not yet settled. The government has not said how pupils under 16 would reach learning videos on platforms such as YouTube. Ofcom will consult on its guidance once the regulations are laid.
Sources
- Ofcom How age checks at age 16 can work to underpin UK's social media ban
- Ofcom Rapid assessment of highly effective age assurance at 16
- Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and DCMS (GOV.UK) Fact sheet: New rules to protect children online
- Hansard (House of Commons, Westminster Hall) Social Media: Ban for Under-16s, 2 November 2026
- Osborne Clarke UK online safety: Ofcom assesses highly effective age assurance methods as online services prepare for new restrictions for under-16s