TikTok to roll out enhanced age checks as social media ban pressure grows

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"TikTok is set to roll out enhanced age verification checks for users across Europe as it bids to clamp down on accounts made by under-13s. The social media giant said its new technology will be able to predict whether an account is owned by a child under the age of 13 by using profile information, videos published, and other on-platform behaviour. Accounts will then be flagged to a human moderator, who will make a decision on whether to ban them."

"It comes as Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to introduce an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s. A group of more than 60 Labour MPs wrote to the prime minister on Sunday and urged him to implement a blanket ban, accusing "successive governments" of doing "too little to protect young people from... unregulated, addictive social media platforms". The prime minister has not ruled out a ban, saying we need to better protect children from social media, and adding: All options are on the table."

The Independent funds on-the-ground journalism covering reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech while keeping reporting free of paywalls and soliciting donations to sustain reporting. TikTok plans enhanced age verification across Europe to detect accounts owned by children under 13 by analysing profile information, published videos, and on-platform behaviour, with suspected accounts flagged for human moderators who can decide on bans. More than 60 Labour MPs urged the prime minister to impose an Australia-style ban for under-16s, accusing successive governments of insufficient protection from addictive, unregulated social media. The prime minister has not ruled out a ban and says all options remain on the table.

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