The UK’s new age-gating rules are easy to bypass


Platforms like Reddit, Bluesky, Discord, and Pornhub have been rolling out mandatory age verification requirements in the UK over the past few weeks to comply with new online safety rules. While the age-gating aims to keep children from accessing pornographic material and other "harmful content" outlined by the UK's communications regulator Ofcom, there's a glaring issue: it relies on kids not knowing how to use a VPN.
As reports have noted across Reddit, Bluesky, and the comments on The Verge's quick post this morning, many online platforms ask users to verify their age based on their IP address. If the user's IP address shows they're loca …
What's Your Reaction?






