UK children bypass online age checks with fake mustaches

A study by the London‑based nonprofit Internet Matters surveyed 1,000 children in the United Kingdom about the Online Safety Act 2023’s age‑verification requirements. Approximately one‑third of respondents said they had successfully evaded the checks, with 52 % of those aged 13 and older and 41 % of those 12 and under describing the process as easy. Common tactics included drawing a mustache on a selfie with an eyebrow pencil, using video‑game character clips, borrowing a parent’s ID, uploading random adult photos, employing VPNs, and asking parents to complete the verification for them. The survey found that 26 % of parents had assisted or turned a blind eye to their children’s attempts.

Half of the children reported exposure to harmful online content in the past month, while more than 90 % expressed support for the new safety measures. Internet Matters called on the UK government to enforce the Online Safety Act more rigorously and to close gaps that allow platforms to evade regulation.