TikTok has announced it will roll out enhanced age verification technology across Europe, aimed at detecting and removing accounts belonging to children under 13. The new system uses profile information, video content, and on-platform behaviour to predict whether an account is owned by an underage user. Accounts flagged by the technology will be reviewed by human moderators, who will decide whether to ban them.
The move comes as UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces growing pressure to introduce an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s. Over 60 Labour MPs wrote to Starmer on Sunday urging a blanket ban, accusing successive governments of failing to protect young people from unregulated, addictive platforms. Starmer has not ruled out a ban, stating that “all options are on the table.” Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has also expressed support for such measures.
However, several online safety and children’s charities have opposed a blanket ban, warning it could create a false sense of security and drive children and predators to less regulated parts of the internet. TikTok stated that the new age checks will be introduced “in the coming weeks” and follow a pilot that removed “thousands of additional underage accounts.” The company emphasised that the technology operates in a “privacy-preserving manner” and is used solely to flag accounts for human review.
TikTok added that it consulted extensively with the Data Protection Commission (DPC) to comply with European data protection standards. Users whose accounts are flagged as underage can appeal using facial age recognition, credit card authorisation, or ID checks. The platform reiterated its commitment to keeping under-13s off the app and providing age-appropriate experiences for teens.
