Fake IDs and hand-drawn moustaches used to fool online age checks

A new report from Internet Matters has shown that a third of UK children aged 9-16 have bypassed online age verification checks in the past two months. Methods used to circumvent facial recognition and age estimation software include using borrowed identification, fake birthdates, and even drawing facial hair with makeup. The report revealed that 46% of surveyed children consider these checks easy to bypass, with some successfully using video game characters or videos of other people to gain access to social media, gaming communities, and messaging apps.

The study also highlighted parental involvement, revealing that 26% of parents allow their children to bypass restrictions when they deem content appropriate.

While the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA) has led to visible changes, such as improved reporting tools and content warnings noticed by 68% of families, 49% of children still reported experiencing online harm in the past month. The report recommends tailoring safety measures to a child's developmental stage and calls for better guidance for parents on algorithms and safety controls to ensure more effective protection.

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