Reddit has started implementing age verification for users in the United Kingdom who wish to access mature content. This is in compliance with the UK’s Online Safety Act.
In a post published on July 15, Reddit said it partnered with identity verification provider Persona to handle the checks. UK users attempting to view restricted content must now verify their age. This is done either through a selfie or a photo of a government-issued ID.
Reddit reiterated that user privacy remains a priority. According to the company, it won’t have access to the photos submitted. Only the verification status and the birthdate provided by the user will be stored, minimizing repeat checks.
Persona will not retain verification photos for more than 7 days. It will also not have access to user activity on Reddit, such as visited subreddits.
UK communications regulator Ofcom confirmed the age verification requirement and said the compliance deadline is July 25. ‘Children will be better protected from online material that’s not appropriate for them, while adults’ rights to access legal content are preserved,’ Ofcom stated.
Reddit also said this process could expand to other regions should content restrictions become more apparent in other areas globally.
Additionally, the platform is introducing a new option for users worldwide to voluntarily enter their birthdate. This should help in tailoring age-appropriate content and ads.
Further details on Reddit’s verification process are available on the platform’s official help page.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply