UK social media ban may lock out more than 100,000 teenagers without ID

Watchdog says under-16 ban may affect older teenagers without passport or licence, and that ‘motivated children’ will skirt restrictions

More than 100,000 British teenagers risk being locked out of social media in the UK if they do not have a passport or driving licence when an under-16 ban is introduced next year.

Ofcom, the UK’s online watchdog, said about 150,000 16 to 17-year-olds do not own a passport or driving licence, which are likely to be needed to access age-restricted platforms.

The Australia-style ban on under-16s accessing social media services including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube is due to come into force next spring.