Some children are drawing on fake moustaches to bypass online age checks, report finds
A report by Internet Matters reveals that a third of UK children have bypassed online age verification measures to access social media and gaming platforms. Some children are using methods such as drawing fake moustaches or entering false birthdates to appear older. While the Online Safety Act has prompted changes, the report highlights ongoing challenges with enforcement and effectiveness.
- ▪More than a third of UK children have bypassed online age verification checks, according to research by Internet Matters.
- ▪Some children are drawing on fake moustaches or using eyebrow pencils to trick facial recognition age verification systems.
- ▪One in six parents admitted to helping their children bypass age verification measures on online platforms.
- ▪Around 49% of children surveyed reported encountering harmful content online recently.
- ▪The Online Safety Act requires platforms likely to be accessed by children to implement age checks, but many measures are easily circumvented.
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NewsUKHome NewsSome children are drawing on fake moustaches to bypass online age checks, report findsA third of children in the UK have bypassed age verification gates, research from Internet Matters suggestsNicole Wootton-Cane Friday 01 May 2026 15:26 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2968803","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/children-bypassing-age-verification-social-media-b2968803.html","title":"Some children are drawing on fake moustaches to bypass online age checks, report says"}}Mia Janin's father pleads…
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