Reddit has begun implementing age verification for users in the UK to prevent individuals under 18 from accessing certain types of mature content.
The move is in response to new requirements under the UK's Online Safety Act, which mandates that platforms displaying adult material must use strong age verification measures.
While Reddit is widely known for its community-based discussions, the company stated that although it does not aim to identify individual users, confirming whether someone is a child or an adult would support its safety initiatives.
The UK communications regulator, Ofcom, responded by saying it expects other companies to adopt similar protections or face enforcement actions if they fail to comply. Starting from 14 July, Reddit’s age checks will be managed by an external company called Persona. Users will need to provide either a selfie or a photo of a government-issued ID, such as a passport.
Reddit clarified that it will not view the submitted photo and will only retain the user’s verification status and date of birth, allowing users to access restricted content without needing to verify again each time.
Persona has committed to deleting the photo within seven days and will not have access to any other data from Reddit’s platform.
The UK’s new regulations are set to take effect on 25 July.
An Ofcom spokesperson explained that society has long restricted children’s access to unsuitable products like alcohol, tobacco, and gambling, and that these online protections are a natural extension of those efforts. They also emphasized that adults will still be able to access legal content online.
However, Scott Babwah Brennen, director at New York University’s Center on Technology Policy, warned that children will likely still find ways to bypass the checks. He also raised concerns about how long companies retain personal or sensitive data and who has access to it.
David Greene, civil liberties director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, criticized the Online Safety Act, calling it a serious misstep. He expressed disappointment that platforms such as Reddit have not challenged the law, saying the act forces UK users to hand over personal information just to use the internet.
Pornhub and several other adult content websites have also announced plans to introduce enhanced age verification systems ahead of the new legal deadline. Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo, said it will implement government-approved methods but has not yet specified the process for proving users are over 18.
Ofcom previously stated that simple measures like asking users to click a button to confirm their age are no longer sufficient.
Companies that fail to comply with the new rules could face penalties of up to £18 million or 10 percent of global revenue, whichever is higher. In extreme cases, Ofcom may seek court orders that would allow payment processors or advertisers to cut ties with noncompliant platforms, or even request that internet service providers block access to the site within the UK.
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