# Shortlist of age checks for the UK’s under-16 social media ban is out, ‘some’ adults will need verifying

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/shortlist-of-age-checks-for-the-uks-under-16-social-media-ban-is-out-some-adults-will-need-verifying/
- Published: 2026-10-29T12:33:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-29T13:25:03+00:00
- Original publisher: The Register
- Original article: https://www.theregister.com/security/2026/10/29/shortlist-of-age-checks-for-the-uks-under-16-social-media-ban-is-out-some-adults-will-need-verifying/5306282
- Topics: Software

## Key points

- Ofcom shortlisted four age-checking methods for a proposed under-16 social media ban.
- Many adults may also need to verify their age.
- About 150,000 UK 16- and 17-year-olds are estimated to lack photo ID.

## Summary

Ofcom has shortlisted four methods for checking whether social media users are at least 16, as the UK prepares a proposed ban on under-16s using the platforms. The decision matters because many adults may also have to verify their age, raising concerns about access, privacy and online anonymity.

The methods are photo-ID matching, checks through a bank, digital ID services and facial age estimation, which Ofcom says may need a second check because it is not reliable enough alone. Ofcom estimates 94 per cent of 16- and 17-year-olds have photo ID, while about 150,000 do not; it also says circumvention cannot be entirely prevented. Big Brother Watch criticised the plan as intrusive, while Ofcom points to Australia’s experience as a source of lessons for the UK.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.