UK Set to Prohibit Social Media Access for Those Under 16

The UK government plans to prohibit access to social media for young children. Under a recently unveiled initiative, platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and others will be required to confirm that their users in the UK are at least 16 years old, with penalties for those who do not comply.

This initiative was detailed in a press release and also shared through Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s YouTube channel and Substack account. The UK’s approach is inspired by Australia’s similar restrictions that were implemented last year, which also prevent individuals under 16 from accessing social media platforms.

Australia’s strategy focuses on placing the responsibility on social media companies rather than parents, requiring these platforms to take “reasonable measures” to keep users under 16 from accessing their services, or risk facing penalties. In practice, this has led to Australians needing to undergo facial recognition or submit identification documents to verify their age. The UK’s initiative, which is based on this Australian model, is expected to follow a similar protocol.

However, providing biometric data or sensitive documents to social media companies isn’t as straightforward as showing an ID to buy alcohol. There are significant risks associated with data mishandling, as demonstrated last year when an age verification contractor leaked images of 70,000 IDs that had been submitted for age checks on the messaging platform Discord. Analysts have raised concerns that restricting children from safer digital environments may inadvertently push them toward more dangerous areas of the internet.

Starmer emphasized that the initiative aims to safeguard children online while also promoting a return to “more traditional” activities for youth. According to the UK government’s press release, a survey revealed that 90% of parents support the idea of prohibiting children under 16 from using social media.

While the US has faced its own issues related to age verification, there is currently no national law similar to Australia’s or the proposed UK restrictions. Legislative proposals are expected to be introduced in Parliament by the end of this year, with the intended start date for these regulations in the spring.