LONDON—Ofcom, the United Kingdom's digital regulator, has urged technology firms to start implementing age verification measures or face penalties under the Online Safety Act.
Age Verification Measures Under Scrutiny
The announcement was made amid ongoing efforts to age-gate the internet not just in the U.K. but also in Western European countries, Australia and the United States. According to Ofcom's statement, the agency notified government relations and compliance staff at the parent companies of Facebook, Instagram, Roblox, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, with a deadline of April 30, to report on the progress of deploying age verification measures.
The agency intends to report on how these companies respond and comply. Dame Melanie Dawes, chief executive of Ofcom, warned that there is a gap between what tech companies promise in private and what they're doing publicly to keep children safe on their platforms.
Four Demands for Tech Platforms
Dame Dawes outlined four demands for the targeted tech platforms. These include:
- Effective minimum-age policies
- Failsafe grooming protections
- Safer feeds for children
- An end to product testing on children
All of these demands contribute to the Online Safety Act's requirements to implement "age-appropriate design" and prevent minors from platform access.
Ofcom's Ongoing Efforts to Combat Online Harms
This is not the first time Ofcom has addressed online harms. In November 2025, the agency urged social media platforms to combat abuse and limit online "pile-ons." The guidance included recommendations to prevent women being harried online by limiting the number of responses to posts.
Ofcom also recommended using a database of images to protect women and girls from the sharing of intimate images without consent. This includes using "hash-matching" technology, which allows platforms to take down an image that has been the subject of a complaint.
Key Facts
- Ofcom has given Facebook, Instagram, Roblox, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube a deadline of April 30 to report on their progress in deploying age verification measures.
- The agency intends to report on how these companies respond and comply with the Online Safety Act's requirements.
- Dame Melanie Dawes has warned that there is a gap between what tech companies promise in private and what they're doing publicly to keep children safe on their platforms.
- Ofcom has set out four demands for further action, including effective minimum-age policies and failsafe grooming protections.
Ofcom will report on how the companies have responded and announce any next steps for regulatory action in May. The agency is also issuing legally-binding information requests to large platforms for insight into how their algorithms work and "will not hesitate" to take enforcement action if they identify failings in how companies promote content to children.
