Reddit customers in the UK will now be blocked from accessing “sure mature content material” until they full the platform’s new age verification course of. Reddit introduced on Monday that UK customers might want to add a selfie or a photograph of their authorities ID in an effort to view content material that’s restricted for under-18s by the UK On-line Security Act (OSA), together with abusive, violent, and sexually express supplies.
The age verification course of is carried out by Persona, a third-party supplier that received’t have entry to customers’ Reddit information or retain images for longer than seven days. Reddit says it additionally received’t have entry to uploaded images, and that it’s going to solely retailer birthdates and verification statuses in order that customers don’t have to re-verify their account. I managed to finish the method myself this morning utilizing a selfie in below a minute, although the photograph software had some issue detecting when my face was appropriately framed.
“Reddit was constructed on the precept that you simply shouldn’t have to share private info to take part in significant discussions,” Reddit mentioned in its announcement. “Whereas we nonetheless don’t wish to know who you’re on Reddit, there are definitely conditions the place it will be useful if we knew a little bit extra about you.”
Reddit famous that there’s a “rising variety of jurisdictions” which have handed or are contemplating legal guidelines that require on-line platforms to confirm the ages of their customers. As such, the platform says it’s additionally introducing a worldwide possibility for customers to offer their birthdate “to assist make sure that content material and adverts are age-appropriate,” and should roll out age verification necessities in different areas.
Extra details about the verification course of might be discovered right here. A listing of content material classes which are restricted to minors — a few of which could possibly be thought of subjective, resembling content material that “romanticizes” despair, hopelessness, and despair — will also be discovered right here.
Like the same age test launched on Bluesky final week, Reddit’s age verification mandate is being launched to adjust to guidelines below the OSA that require on-line platforms to implement measures that defend youngsters from seeing dangerous and age-inappropriate content material by July twenty fifth. In line with a report printed by British communications regulator Ofcom final 12 months, Reddit was the fastest-growing giant social media platform within the UK in 2024, experiencing a 47 p.c year-on-year enhance in attain for grownup customers.
“The UK’s on-line security guidelines are coming into pressure and alter is occurring. Society has lengthy protected kids from merchandise that aren’t appropriate for them, from alcohol to smoking or playing,” Ofcom mentioned in a press release to The Verge. “Now, youngsters might be higher shielded from on-line materials that’s not applicable for them, whereas adults’ rights to entry authorized content material are preserved. We count on different firms to comply with swimsuit, or face enforcement in the event that they fail to behave.”
The announcement additionally talked about Reddit “wish to have the option” to verify whether or not customers are human or not within the new age of AI. Reddit mentioned that it has “extra to come back about that later,” suggesting the platform is planning to crack down on AI bot accounts.
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