Reddit Rolls Out Age Verification for UK Users
The social media app is doing this to comply with online safety laws in the UK.
If you're in the UK and use Reddit to browse NSFW content or controversial subreddits, expect a new hurdle: proving your age. That's because Reddit has started rolling out mandatory age verification in the UK, and it’s not just a pop-up asking for your birthday. You’ll now need to upload a photo ID or take a selfie to unlock restricted posts.
So, why the sudden crackdown? It’s all about compliance with the UK’s Online Safety Act, a sweeping regulation designed to protect minors from harmful online content. And Reddit isn’t alone. Decentralised social app Bluesky is also rolling out age verification tools to meet the same legal standards. While, other social media platforms like Instagram have introduced this feature in the UK since 2022.
Reddit is outsourcing the process to Persona, a third-party service that will handle photo verification. The company claims it won’t store your images, only your verification status and birthdate, so you won’t have to repeat the process. Persona will reportedly delete your photos within seven days and won’t have access to your posts or subreddit activity.
Oluwaseun Bamisile
Once verified, adults can continue browsing as usual. But users under 18 will see major restrictions, including blocks on sexually explicit content, self-harm discussions, hate speech, gambling ads, and anything promoting dangerous behaviour or body shaming.
And this isn’t just a UK issue. Australia is also exploring various age verification methods, including photo ID checks, facial age estimation, and digital IDs, as it ramps up efforts to limit underage access to adult content online. These moves reflect a growing global trend of governments pushing platforms to be more accountable for content exposure.
So far, Reddit’s new rules only apply to UK-based users. But the platform has hinted that it may need to verify users in other regions if similar laws are introduced. It’s also teased plans to verify whether users are “real human beings” in the age of AI, with more details expected soon.
Recently, many social media platforms are changing how they handle age-gated content. Reddit, once known for its anything-goes culture, is being forced to draw harder lines, especially as government scrutiny around child safety intensifies.
