TikTok will implement new age-verification technology across the European Union in the coming weeks. This move comes as growing concerns about the safety of children online prompt discussions of potential social media bans for users under 16 in various countries, including the UK. The platform, owned by ByteDance, has faced increasing pressure to improve its ability to identify and remove accounts belonging to children.
The age-verification system has been piloted quietly in the EU for the past year. It analyses profile information, posted videos, and behavioral signals to determine whether an account likely belongs to a user under the age of 13. According to TikTok, accounts flagged by this system will be reviewed by specialist moderators instead of facing automatic bans, allowing for a more considered approach to account management. In the UK alone, this pilot program has resulted in the removal of thousands of accounts.
Major social media platforms, including YouTube, are under similar scrutiny regarding their handling of underage users. In December 2023, Australia implemented a ban on social media for individuals under 16 years old. Since the ban took effect on December 10, more than 4.7 million accounts have been removed across ten platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, as revealed by the country’s eSafety commissioner.
Growing Concerns in Europe and the UK
The rollout of TikTok’s new age-verification system coincides with heightened scrutiny from European authorities regarding how platforms verify user ages under data protection regulations. Earlier this week, UK Labour leader Keir Starmer expressed openness to a potential social media ban for young people. He voiced concerns about the significant amount of time children and teenagers spend on smartphones, highlighting alarming reports of five-year-olds spending hours in front of screens each day.
Starmer has previously opposed a blanket ban, arguing it would be difficult to enforce and could lead teenagers to seek less regulated environments, such as the dark web. The conversation surrounding social media safety has intensified, especially following tragic incidents, including the case of 14-year-old Jools Sweeney, who died after participating in an online challenge. His mother has called for greater parental rights to access their children’s social media accounts in the event of their death.
The European Parliament is actively pushing for age limits on social media usage, while Denmark is advocating for a ban for users under 15. TikTok has stated that its new technology complies with the EU’s regulatory requirements, having collaborated with Ireland’s Data Protection Commission—the lead EU privacy regulator—during the development process.
Industry Response and Regulatory Pressure
The ongoing debate about age-verification technology highlights broader concerns about the responsibilities of social media platforms in safeguarding young users. In the UK, the pilot program to remove underage accounts has shown significant results, prompting discussions about potential legislative actions.
Additionally, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, employs the verification company Yoti to authenticate users’ ages on its platforms. This trend reflects a growing recognition among social media companies of the need to address age-related challenges proactively.
A 2023 investigation by The Guardian revealed that some moderators were instructed to allow users under 13 to remain on TikTok if they claimed to have parental supervision. This finding underscores the complexities and inconsistencies in current moderation practices, further fueling the call for improved age verification measures.
As TikTok prepares to launch its upgraded system, the company aims to demonstrate a commitment to user safety and compliance with evolving regulatory standards. The effectiveness of this initiative will be closely monitored as authorities and parents alike seek to ensure a safer online environment for children.
