Story perspectives

Ofcom Urges Stronger Age Verification to Protect Kids Online

3/14/2026

Summary

Story summary

Ofcom and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) urged social media platforms to strengthen age verification to protect children.
They criticized Meta and TikTok for inadequate safety measures, while the government is consulting on banning under-16s but has rejected a complete ban.
A recent study showed British children are exposed to dangerous content shortly after creating profiles.
Ofcom plans to report in May on platform responses and may enforce stricter regulations.

History

Historical Context

The Online Safety Act 2023, passed on October 26, 2023, mandates UK platforms like Meta and TikTok to implement age verification systems to protect children from harmful online content. This legislation reflects ongoing concerns about child safety in digital spaces, echoing previous efforts to regulate online content and highlighting the tension between user privacy and the need for child protection.

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Story summary

Ofcom and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) urged social media platforms to strengthen age verification to protect children.
They criticized Meta and TikTok for inadequate safety measures, while the government is consulting on banning under-16s but has rejected a complete ban.
A recent study showed British children are exposed to dangerous content shortly after creating profiles.
Ofcom plans to report in May on platform responses and may enforce stricter regulations.

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