One-Third of UK Children Falsify Ages to Access Social Media
A new Ofcom report reveals that a third of UK children aged 8 to 17 use fake birthdates to join social media platforms. The research emerges as the UK prepares to implement its Online Safety Bill.
A new report from the U.K. media watchdog Ofcom reveals that one-third of children between the ages of 8 and 17 use falsified adult ages to access social media platforms. These young users primarily bypass age restrictions by simply providing a fake date of birth during the sign-up process. The research shows that 77% of children in this age group use major platforms under their own profiles, with 60% of the younger bracket aged 8 to 12 doing the same.
The study finds that up to half of these underage users sign up for accounts entirely on their own, while up to two-thirds receive help from a parent or guardian. This widespread falsification takes place as social media companies face heavy fines and public scrutiny over how they handle children's privacy. The findings suggest that current simple verification methods are highly ineffective at keeping young children off these platforms.
Ofcom releases this research ahead of the U.K.'s planned ratification of the Online Safety Bill in early 2023, which aims to make the country the safest place to be online while defending free expression. The watchdog highlights a gray area in adult content, noting that parents and children view social media and gaming as "less risky" than gambling or pornography. Consequently, the report indicates a growing preference for "hard identifiers" like official ID verification rather than easily bypassed honor systems.