Story perspectives

UK Regulators Demand Stronger Age Checks from Social Media

3/15/2026

Summary

Story summary

UK regulators, including the Information Commissioner's Office and Ofcom, urge social media firms to strengthen age checks, criticizing Meta and TikTok for not prioritizing child safety.
Regulators say self-declaration age verifications are easily bypassed.
Ofcom will report on platforms' responses in May and may pursue enforcement.
Australia has implemented a verification system requiring multiple ways to authenticate users' ages, removing millions of underage accounts.

History

Historical Context

The UK's Online Safety Act, introduced in 2021, aims to enhance child protection online, following Australia's 2019 initiative that removed over 1.5 million underage accounts. This legislation reflects growing global concerns about child safety on social media, as scrutiny of platforms like Meta and TikTok continues, potentially leading to stricter enforcement and improved safety measures worldwide.

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Story summary

UK regulators, including the Information Commissioner's Office and Ofcom, urge social media firms to strengthen age checks, criticizing Meta and TikTok for not prioritizing child safety.
Regulators say self-declaration age verifications are easily bypassed.
Ofcom will report on platforms' responses in May and may pursue enforcement.
Australia has implemented a verification system requiring multiple ways to authenticate users' ages, removing millions of underage accounts.

1 / 2