Reddit now requires users in the United Kingdom to verify their age to access mature content, following new rules under the UK’s Online Safety Act. Users must prove they are at least 18 years old to read or contribute to adult-themed sections of the platform.
The new regulation is part of the UK government’s push to make the internet safer, particularly for children. The country’s media regulator, Ofcom, warned that companies failing to follow these rules could face severe penalties, including fines of up to £18 million or 10% of their global revenue, whichever is higher.
For serious or repeated violations, UK authorities can also ask the courts to impose stricter measures. These may include cutting off a platform’s advertising income, blocking payment providers, or instructing internet service providers to restrict access to the site entirely.
Reddit has partnered with the verification company Persona to handle the new process. Users will need to upload either a selfie or a photo of their government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. Reddit says the verification is a one-time check, and it will only keep a user’s date of birth and verification status. Persona will store the uploaded images for seven days before deleting them.
Civil liberties groups have raised concerns about the policy. David Greene, director of civil liberties at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, criticized the Online Safety Act, calling it a “tragedy” for online privacy. Greene warned that users will now have to identify themselves just to participate in public discussions or access certain information online.
Critics also argue that the system may be easy to bypass. Teenagers could potentially use someone else’s ID or even generate fake images with artificial intelligence to trick the verification process. They also worry the rules could set a precedent for governments to track citizens’ reading and online activities more broadly, discouraging free expression.
Despite these concerns, the UK government and Ofcom have made it clear they expect other online platforms to adopt similar age-checking systems soon, or face enforcement actions.
