The UK media regulator Ofcom has published a rapid assessment of how social media firms could reliably check whether a user is aged 16 or over, ahead of the government's planned ban on social media for under-16s. The assessment was requested by the Secretary of State to inform Parliament's consideration of the detailed rules for the ban, which is expected to come into force next year. The government announced the ban in June 2026 and has said highly effective age assurance will be critical to making it work.

What Ofcom has published

Ofcom identified four methods currently capable of being highly effective at age 16: photo ID matching, digital ID services, banking-based checks and facial age estimation. Photo ID matching compares the photograph on a document such as a passport or driving licence with a live image of the user. Banking checks use age information held by a financial institution, with the user's consent. Digital ID services allow a person to prove their age once and reuse that proof, while facial age estimation analyses facial features to estimate age.

The four methods identified

The assessment is frank about the limits. Around 94 per cent of people aged 16 and over in the UK hold a passport or driving licence, but an estimated 150,000 16- and 17-year-olds hold neither. Facial age estimation can also be inaccurate by a few years at 16, so Ofcom suggests a second check for borderline cases, similar to the Challenge 25 approach used for alcohol sales. Ofcom says circumvention cannot be entirely eliminated, but reporting tools and age-inference technology could reduce the risk. The government intends to publish its first regulations before the end of 2026, and Ofcom will consult on draft guidance once those regulations are laid before Parliament.

The gaps and the next steps

Sources: Advanced Television, MLex.