Earlier this month reddit dropped a bombshell on users in the United Kingdom. They need to prove their age to meet requirements under the newly passed Online Safety Act (OSA). This initiative aims to shield children from accessing inappropriate content on the platform, in light of concerns regarding online safety and the exposure of minors to harmful material.
To help with this age-verification process, Reddit is using a third-party service, Persona – which has the right idea. Users are required to upload a selfie along with a scan of their government ID. As another option, they can snap a selfie to prove their age. The verification process includes an active check of individuals to confirm their age. This prevents those under the minimum age from viewing content that may not be appropriate for younger users.
Second, the OSA was originally designed to protect our children from the perils of online material. It particularly aims to protect children from unsafe chemicals, pollutants, and other hazardous substances. Sexually explicit posts are not allowed on Reddit. It prevents the dissemination of content that encourages self-injury, suicide, or restrictive eating. The platform has implemented restrictions against posts that spread hate based on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or gender. Violent, dangerous, or hateful content is similarly featured on the expanding list of restricted content.
Reddit’s shift to require age verification is part of a larger, industry-wide effort by social media companies to make their platforms safer for all users. Bluesky, another new platform, has recently made moves to age-gate its UK users. This growing emphasis on compliance with safety regulations reflects the increasing scrutiny on social media companies to protect younger audiences from potentially distressing or dangerous content.
Together, these measures make a historic intervention in the way platforms operate to prioritize safety over clicks and profit. They primarily make content more accessible to all people. By requiring age verification, Reddit aims to create a safer environment for all users while adhering to legal obligations under the OSA.
