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𝑼𝑲 𝑻𝒐 𝑩𝒂𝒏 𝑼𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓-16𝒔 π‘­π’“π’π’Ž π‘»π’Šπ’Œπ‘»π’π’Œ, π‘°π’π’”π’•π’‚π’ˆπ’“π’‚π’Ž, 𝑺𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒕, 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝑻𝒖𝒃𝒆 𝑡𝒆𝒙𝒕 π‘Ίπ’‘π’“π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝑨𝒔 π‘Άπ’‡π’„π’π’Ž π‘Ήπ’‚π’Šπ’”π’†π’” π‘¨π’π’‚π’“π’Ž 𝑢𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑰𝑫

 

More than 100,000 teenagers in the United Kingdom could be shut out of social media next year when a new law banning under-16s from using major platforms takes effect.

The warning came from Ofcom, the UK's online safety watchdog, which said about 150,000 young people aged 16 to 17 do not have a passport or driving licence. Both documents are expected to be used to confirm age once the ban starts.

The policy, which follows Australia's example, is scheduled to begin next spring. It will affect popular platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, Reddit, X and Twitch.

Ofcom explained that there are four reliable ways to verify age. These include checking an official ID against a live selfie, asking a bank to confirm a customer's age, using a recognised digital ID like the Young Scot card, or estimating age through a facial scan. But the regulator stressed that a physical photo ID will still be needed as a backup, because facial scanning can miss a person's real age by several years.

As a result, teenagers without any form of photo identification may have to obtain one before they can continue using age-restricted services. At the moment, over 90 percent of people above 16 in Britain own either a passport or a driving licence.

According to The Guardian UK, Ofcom's Chief Executive Melanie Dawes admitted that the ban will not completely stop children from trying to access social media. She compared it to underage drinking, saying motivated children will always look for ways around the rules.

The experience in Australia supports this concern. A survey of 900 parents there found that 31 percent of children still had at least one social media account after the ban was introduced in December last year, down from 49 percent before the law.

Dawes described the move as a major cultural change for the UK, adding that it will take time for families, schools and tech companies to adjust.

The UK government is expected to release a full list of affected platforms and publish final regulations before the end of the year, while Ofcom consults on the best verification method to adopt.

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