39% of UK Children Bypass Online Age Checks, Report Finds
Nearly two in five children aged 11-17 in the UK have successfully bypassed online age verification, often by falsely stating their age. Most encounter weak checks that they deem ineffective.
A recent study reveals that 39% of children in the UK, aged 11 to 17, have successfully circumvented online age verification systems. Over half of these children have also deliberately chosen platforms with no age checks or those with easily defeatable verification methods. The research, conducted by BMG Research for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, surveyed 2,299 children.
The most common age checks encountered by children are the weakest, such as ticking a box or entering a date of birth. Fewer than half have experienced stronger methods, like uploading a government ID. Children themselves consider these basic checks ineffective, while identifying stronger methods as reliable.
Circumvention is often achieved by simply lying about age, with 39% successfully bypassing checks. A significant 53% have opted for services without any checks. Knowledge of these bypass methods is largely shared among peers, with 59% learning how from friends.
The report also noted that approximately 25% of children have used VPNs, with privacy and access to restricted content being the primary motivations. While parents often assist with VPN setup, direct help with bypassing age gates is less common.
Among children who bypassed age checks, half reported exposure to harmful content, including explicit material and violence. The study suggests that children are often aware of the potential risks but choose to proceed anyway.