“Ofcom hints at how the UK's social media ban for under-16s might work”

Key points

• UK children under 16 would be banned from top ten platforms by March 2027.
• Methods suggested include photo ID matching, banking checks, digital ID, and facial age estimation.
• Regulator warns some youths may bypass checks despite safeguards.
• Platforms could reduce risk by easier reporting of underage accounts and behavior-based age estimates.
• Dame Melanie Dawes notes enforcement challenges similar to alcohol laws.