UK to require age checks on social media for users under 16

The UK announced this week that it will require users to prove they are over 16 before they can access or post on major social media platforms including X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the policy as a line in the sand. He said tech companies had their chance and failed, and that the government was stepping in to protect children and back parents.

The measure would require users to verify their age, possibly by uploading government ID and a photo for AI analysis. Companies could then collect facial scans and other biometric data that many platforms did not previously hold.

That data is used to build consumer profiles sold to advertisers or applied to train AI systems. It is also used to deliver targeted content designed to keep users engaged.

All data collected under the system would be subject to existing protection laws, but it could still be stolen or misused. Children would face higher risks of identity theft, blackmail and other harms tied to age verification, according to critics.

Some supporters of the policy have called for additional content restrictions. They argue that many children will bypass age checks or move to less regulated corners of the internet.

The article notes that major platforms already comply with government censorship demands in other countries to protect their business interests. In 2024, X suspended accounts of protesters in India after threats of fines. In 2020, Facebook restricted anti-government content in Vietnam after authorities slowed its service. Earlier this year, Meta and Snapchat blocked accounts of Saudi dissidents following government orders.

The piece argues that comprehensive data privacy rules and antitrust enforcement would do more to limit tech companies' power than age verification. It says smaller platforms would struggle with the cost of verification systems, reducing competition and user choice.

The internet remains an important space for young people to form connections and access information, the article states. It concludes that lawmakers should focus on removing incentives for mass surveillance rather than requiring every user to provide identification.