UK age verification comes from the Online Safety Act. Since 25 July 2025, sites and apps that host pornography or content promoting self-harm, suicide or eating disorders must use highly effective age checks, such as facial age estimation, photo ID matching or credit card checks, to keep under-18s away from it. That's why many social apps and forums now ask UK users to prove they're adults.
It isn't just adult websites. Any service with user posts that's likely to be used by children has duties under the Act, so mainstream platforms with mixed content have added checks too, usually before you can see restricted posts, search results or communities.
Here's what the law asks for, why you're seeing prompts on apps you've used for years, and how to handle a check without putting your details at risk.
What changed on 25 July 2025
The Online Safety Act became law on 26 October 2023, and Ofcom has brought its duties in over several phases. The children's safety duties became fully enforceable on 25 July 2025. From that date, the government says platforms must:
- use highly effective age assurance to stop children seeing the most harmful content,
- either age-restrict the parts of the platform where that content sits, or block under-18s from the whole site,
- stop their feeds and recommendations pushing harmful content to children,
- act quickly to remove harmful content they become aware of,
- give children and parents clear ways to report problems.
The government's own description is that this creates extra steps when you create a new account or try to view content that isn't suitable for children.
What counts as harmful content
| Category | What it covers | What platforms must do |
|---|---|---|
| Primary priority content | Pornography, and content encouraging self-harm, suicide or eating disorders | Stop children seeing it, using highly effective age checks |
| Priority content | Bullying, abusive or hateful content, serious violence, dangerous stunts and challenges, harmful substances | Give children an age-appropriate experience |
So a site doesn't need to be an adult site to ask for a check. A forum, music app or social network that allows some primary priority content somewhere on the service has to keep children away from that part, and an age check is the usual way.
Which sites ask UK users to verify
When the duties started, the government said around a thousand platforms had confirmed to Ofcom that they had checks in place. Each one picks its own method and checking partner, so the experience differs. Two big examples, from their own UK help pages:
| Platform | When it asks | How you verify | If you don't |
|---|---|---|---|
| When you try to open mature or restricted content, starting with your birthdate | Your Apple account on iOS, or Reddit's partner Persona with a selfie or ID | UK users may get limited access to anonymous browsing | |
| Discord | Every UK user starts with teen safety defaults until they confirm they're 18 or over | User Settings, then Account Status, and pick a method | Flagged images stay blurred, and age-restricted servers and channels stay closed |
Reddit says it doesn't see or store your documents. Discord says messaging friends, voice calls and servers that aren't age-restricted work the same without a check. For their wider rules, see Reddit's age requirement and Discord's age requirement.
You're also likely to meet checks on dating services, music and video apps with explicit material, and gaming platforms with open chat. Always follow the steps in the app's own Help centre.
Wondering about TikTok? See whether TikTok is banned in the UK.
The age check methods you'll see
Ofcom judges whether a method is highly effective, and the government names three common ones. Here's what each involves:
| Method | What you do | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Facial age estimation | Take a short selfie video so software estimates your age | No ID needed, but people near the threshold may be asked for a second method |
| Photo ID matching | Upload a passport or driving licence, then a selfie to match it | Check who's holding your ID before you upload |
| Credit card check | Confirm you hold a credit card, which you can only get at 18 | Debit cards don't prove age the same way |
Simply ticking a box or typing a date of birth no longer counts for the most harmful content. That's the change most people notice.
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How to verify safely
- Start the check from inside the app or website itself, never from a link in a text or email.
- Look for the platform's Help page naming the company it uses for checks, and make sure the screen you're on matches it.
- Choose the least invasive option you're comfortable with. If a selfie estimate works, you don't need to hand over your passport.
- Never send ID to someone who messages you offering to verify your account for you.
- If a check fails wrongly, use the platform's appeal or retry option rather than a third-party workaround.
What happens if a platform ignores the rules
Ofcom can take enforcement action, including large fines set against a company's global turnover, and senior managers can face criminal action if they don't respond to Ofcom's information requests. That's why big platforms rolled checks out across the UK instead of waiting.
If your audience plays on Roblox, see how Roblox age checks work.
What it means for your business
If you run a community, membership site or app where people post content, the Act may apply to you too, even as a small business. The duties are proportionate to the size and risk of the service, so a small forum isn't expected to do what a global platform does. If your content is family-friendly and you moderate it, you're unlikely to need age checks, but do a children's risk assessment and keep a record of it.
My advice for marketers: expect slightly fewer logged-in UK users on adult-adjacent platforms, and don't rely on gated communities on those apps as your only route to customers.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Reddit asking me to verify my age in the UK?
Because the Online Safety Act requires platforms to keep under-18s away from the most harmful content. Reddit asks for your birthdate when you open mature or restricted content, then offers an Apple account or Persona check.
When did UK age verification start?
The children's safety duties became enforceable on 25 July 2025, and that's when most mainstream platforms started asking UK users to prove their age.
What methods can sites use to check my age?
The government names facial age estimation, photo ID matching and credit card checks. Ticking a box or typing a birthday isn't enough for the most harmful content.
Must I upload my passport?
Not always. Many platforms offer a selfie-based age estimate first. Pick the option you're comfortable with and only start a check from inside the app.
Does the Online Safety Act apply to small websites?
It can, if users post content. The duties are proportionate to the size and risk of the service, so a small moderated community has far less to do.
