Reddit rolls out age verification in the UK to comply with new rules
Reddit, one of the world’s largest online communities, has initiated a mandatory age verification process for its users in the United Kingdom. This significant step aims to prevent minors from accessing content deemed inappropriate or harmful, aligning the platform with the UK’s stringent new Online Safety Act (OSA).
The move comes as a direct response to the OSA, which mandates digital platforms to implement robust measures to shield children from encountering illicit or detrimental material, including pornography, content promoting self-harm, and severe forms of cyberbullying. For Reddit, this translates into a stricter gateway for UK-based users.
To facilitate this verification, Reddit is leveraging Persona, a reputable third-party service. UK users are now required to submit a picture of their government-issued identification document or take a real-time selfie. Crucially, Reddit has clarified that it will not store these sensitive images. Instead, the platform will only retain the user’s verification status and their confirmed date of birth, a measure designed to alleviate some privacy concerns.
The types of content now restricted from users under 18 encompass a broad spectrum of sensitive topics. This includes, but is not limited to, sexually explicit posts, material that encourages suicide or disordered eating, and any content that propagates hate speech against individuals based on their race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or gender. Additionally, other violent and harmful content falls under these new restrictions.
While the necessity for protecting young users is widely acknowledged, the implementation of such age verification systems has sparked considerable debate. Critics, including organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), have consistently raised alarms regarding the potential security and privacy risks inherent in requiring private companies to collect and store vast quantities of personal identity documents. Such concerns highlight the delicate balance between online safety and individual data privacy.
Reddit is not alone in adapting to these new UK regulations. Just last week, Bluesky, another emerging social media platform, also announced its intention to introduce age assurance requirements for its users within the UK, underscoring a growing trend among platforms to comply with the evolving landscape of online safety legislation.
