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A new report suggests that many children are easily bypassing online age verification systems, sometimes using surprisingly simple methods. Techniques include entering fake birthdates and even drawing on facial hair to appear older, allowing access to platforms that are meant to be restricted by age.
The findings come as the UK enforces stricter rules under the Online Safety Act, which requires social media, gaming platforms, and adult websites to verify users’ ages. These rules are intended to limit children’s exposure to harmful content, with most platforms setting minimum age requirements of 13 or 18 depending on the service. However, the effectiveness of these systems is being questioned, as reported by The Independent.
The research, conducted by Internet Matters, found that more than one-third of children in the UK have successfully bypassed age verification measures. Out of a sample of 1,000 children, 32 percent admitted to doing so, while 46 percent said these systems are easy to get around.
Some of the methods described are notably low-tech. Parents reported instances of children using makeup, such as eyebrow pencils, to draw moustaches in an attempt to fool facial recognition systems. In one case, a parent said their child was verified as a teenager after adding fake facial hair. Beyond that, simply entering an incorrect birthdate remains one of the most common ways to bypass restrictions.
The report also highlights the role of parents in this process. Around one in six parents admitted to helping their children get past age checks. This raises questions about how enforcement can work effectively when supervision at home is inconsistent.
At the same time, exposure to harmful content remains widespread. Nearly half of the children surveyed said they had recently encountered content they considered harmful. This suggests that, despite new regulations, current safeguards are not fully preventing access.
Regulators and policymakers are now under pressure to strengthen enforcement. The UK government has indicated it is considering additional measures, including stricter age limits and design changes aimed at protecting younger users. There is also ongoing discussion around broader restrictions for users under 16.
Officials have emphasized that platforms are responsible for ensuring compliance. Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has been given authority to take action against companies that fail to implement effective safeguards. Authorities have signaled that weak or easily bypassed systems will not meet regulatory expectations.
The findings point to a gap between policy and practice. While legislation is in place, real-world implementation appears inconsistent, leaving children able to access restricted platforms with minimal effort.