TikTok is taking a proactive approach to age verification across the European Union, responding to growing calls for stricter regulations on social media platforms. In the wake of the UK's potential ban on social media for under-16s, TikTok is implementing a new age-verification system that analyzes profile information, posted videos, and behavioral signals to predict whether an account may belong to a user under 13. This system, which has been quietly piloted in the EU over the past year, has already led to the removal of thousands of accounts in the UK. The company emphasizes that flagged accounts will be reviewed by specialist moderators before any automatic ban, ensuring a more nuanced approach to content moderation. This move comes as European authorities scrutinize age verification practices under data protection rules, with TikTok working closely with Ireland's Data Protection Commission to comply with EU regulations. The company's efforts to enhance age verification reflect a broader trend in the industry, as other major platforms like YouTube and Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram) are also under pressure to better identify and remove child accounts. Australia's recent social media ban for under-16s, which has resulted in the removal of over 4.7 million accounts across various platforms, further underscores the global push for stricter age verification measures. However, the debate around social media bans for children continues, with concerns about the potential negative impact on teenagers and the difficulty of effective enforcement.
