A recent study revealed that young individuals are finding ways to bypass social media age verification processes through tactics like using fake birthdates, sharing accounts, altering photos, and even resorting to drawing fake facial hair. Despite strict online safety regulations, nearly half of children (49%) have encountered harmful content online, such as violent or hateful material.
Approximately 46% of children believe that age checks are easily circumvented, with only 17% finding them challenging to bypass. A significant portion of children (32%) admitted to bypassing age verification systems by providing false birthdates or using someone else’s login credentials. Some even resorted to creative methods like drawing on facial features to deceive the checks.
In response to these issues, social media companies were mandated by Ofcom to implement stringent age verification measures, including credit card checks and facial recognition technology, as part of the Online Safety Act. While progress has been made in enhancing safety features, such as reporting tools and content filters, around 68% of children and 67% of parents have noticed these improvements on platforms.
Despite these advancements, only a minority of parents (39%) and children (42%) believe that the online environment has become significantly safer. Calls have been made for stronger age verification protocols to address the persisting challenges. In light of Australia’s ban on social media for under 16s, the UK Government is under pressure to consider similar measures, including outright bans, curfews, or app restrictions.
Internet Matters emphasized the need for robust age verification systems to achieve meaningful progress in online safety. Early findings from Australia’s ban indicated that a considerable number of 12 to 15-year-olds were still accessing restricted platforms. The organization’s chief executive, Rachel Huggins, highlighted the importance of designing safety measures that cater to families’ real needs and effectively protect children online.
As the Government considers further legislative changes following consultations, the focus should be on implementing safety measures that genuinely safeguard children and foster a secure online environment. Ofcom stressed the significance of the Online Safety Act in safeguarding children from unwanted risks online and urged tech firms to take more proactive steps to protect young users.
