Reddit Introduces Age Verification for Users in the UK

Reddit has rolled out age verification on its UK platform to prevent users under 18 from accessing “certain mature content.”

The move comes in response to new requirements under the UK’s Online Safety Act, which mandates that websites displaying adult material implement “robust” age-checking systems. Reports Technology News

Reddit, widely known for its community-driven discussions, stated that while it doesn’t aim to identify its users personally, “it would be helpful for our safety efforts to be able to confirm whether you are a child or an adult.”

UK regulator Ofcom has made it clear that it expects other platforms to adopt similar measures—or risk facing enforcement action if they fail to comply.

Starting 14 July, Reddit will use a third-party firm called Persona to handle the age verification process. Users will be asked to provide either a selfie or a photo of their government-issued ID, such as a passport.

Reddit assured users that it will not have access to these images. Instead, it will only store the user’s verification status and date of birth to avoid repeated checks for accessing restricted content.

Persona, according to Reddit, will not retain the photos for more than seven days and will not have access to any user data on Reddit’s platform.

The new UK age verification rules are set to take effect from 25 July.