Reddit Enforces Age Verification in the UK Amid Online Safety Law Compliance

TL;DR

• Reddit now requires age verification for UK users to comply with the Online Safety Act (OSA).
  
• Users must verify their age via Persona, a third-party ID-check platform.
  
• The measure aims to block minors from accessing explicit or harmful content, including material promoting self-harm or hate speech.
  
• Reddit will not store ID images, retaining only age verification status and birthdate.
  
• This follows Bluesky’s similar action last week under the same regulation.
  

Reddit Implements Identity Checks for UK Users

Reddit users based in the United Kingdom are now required to verify their age before accessing the platform, marking a major shift in how the site moderates content for minors. The move is Reddit’s direct response to the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA), which mandates stricter safeguards to protect underage users from exposure to harmful material.

The platform will utilize Persona, a third-party identity verification service, to process this verification. Reddit users must either upload an image of a government-issued ID or take a selfie. The company says it will not store these images and will only retain the user’s verification status and date of birth.

OSA Forces Platform-Level Compliance

The UK’s Online Safety Act, which became enforceable in 2025, introduces legal obligations for digital platforms to protect children from harmful online content. Failure to comply can lead to hefty penalties and possible restrictions by the UK’s Office of Communications (Ofcom), the regulator enforcing the law.

Reddit’s compliance efforts mean that users under 18 will be blocked from viewing:

• Pornographic or sexually explicit content
  
• Suicide-encouraging material
  
• Disordered eating content
  
• Hate speech based on gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability
  

Reddit joins other platforms such as Bluesky, which also announced last week that it would implement age verification for UK users in line with the new regulations.

UK Online Safety Act Platform Response (2025)

Criticism and Privacy Concerns Remain

While Reddit and similar platforms are acting to meet legal obligations, privacy advocates have raised concerns about the implications of mass ID collection. Critics argue that outsourcing identity checks to private vendors may expose users to data breaches or surveillance—even when companies like Reddit claim not to retain sensitive documents.

Privacy International and other advocacy groups have called for transparent oversight and minimally intrusive verification methods.

Despite these concerns, regulators and platform operators argue that age verification is a necessary trade-off in protecting vulnerable users, particularly minors, from harmful digital environments.

Global Implications: Will This Expand Beyond the UK?

The UK’s Online Safety Act is among the most comprehensive child safety laws in the digital sphere, but other governments may soon follow suit. Lawmakers in the EU, Australia, and parts of the U.S. have signaled interest in age-gating requirements for platforms hosting adult or sensitive content.

If Reddit’s rollout proves effective in the UK, it could set a precedent for broader international deployment, especially as countries align with age-appropriate design codes.

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