Stronger age-verification tech across Europe signals rising regulatory compliance costs and platform changes for social media operators with youth user bases. (BizTrendWire Insight)
Source: Reuters (via feed)
TikTok said it will tighten age checks in Europe, Reuters reported on Friday. The rollout of new age-detection technology is expected in the coming weeks.
The platform said the move responds to pressure from European regulators to better identify and remove accounts belonging to children under 13.
TikTok told Reuters that the system follows a year-long pilot in Britain. The technology looks at profile details, posted videos and behavior signals to estimate ages.
Accounts flagged by the system will be checked by specialist moderators rather than automatically banned, TikTok said.
The rollout comes as European authorities increase scrutiny of how platforms verify ages under strict data-protection laws.
Australia last year imposed a social media ban on children under 16, and the European Parliament is pushing for age limits on social media platforms.
Denmark aims to ban social media for those under 15, Reuters said.
TikTok said it built the system specifically for Europe to comply with regulatory requirements. It worked with Ireland’s Data Protection Commission on the design.
European users will be notified as the new technology begins to launch, TikTok added.
