The U.K.'s Online Safety Act is now in effect, requiring online platforms to verify users' ages to protect children from harmful content. Around 6,000 porn sites are implementing age checks, and platforms like Reddit, Bluesky, X, and Grindr are also asking U.K. users to verify their age using selfies or IDs.
Critics like the Electronic Frontier Foundation argue that these measures threaten online privacy and anonymity. The breach of dating app Tea, where verification selfies and IDs were exposed, highlights these concerns.
Users may try to bypass age checks with fake IDs or VPNs.