Nearly 39% of children aged 11 to 17 in the UK have successfully bypassed online age checks, according to research by BMG Research for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The survey, conducted in May 2026 with 2,299 children, found that over half deliberately chose websites, apps, or games without age verification measures.
The report highlights that most age checks children encounter are weak, such as ticking a box or entering a date of birth, which 54% of respondents said do not work. Only 17% of children have faced stronger checks like uploading government ID, which 86% consider effective. Around 20% of children have never encountered any age check. The findings note that children are often asked to satisfy checks they view as easy to bypass, aligning with the Online Safety Act’s recognition of the ineffectiveness of common methods.
The Online Safety Act, effective since July 2025, mandates that in-scope services implement highly effective age assurance measures. The research underscores the gap between regulatory requirements and current practices, with many services relying on weaker checks that fail to prevent underage access. This raises concerns about online child safety and the enforcement of digital age restrictions in the UK.
The BMG Research survey was weighted to represent UK children aged 11 to 17 and was conducted between May 18 and 29, 2026. The report clarifies that its findings do not represent government views or policy but provide insight into the effectiveness of current age verification methods.