Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall have urged social media giants to adopt stringent age verification systems similar to those used by adult platforms like OnlyFans. During a Downing Street meeting with executives from Meta, Google, TikTok, Snap, and X, Starmer warned that current practices are putting children at risk and demanded immediate action.

Kendall specifically pointed to OnlyFans as a model for robust age checks, suggesting platforms could require credit card details or identity documents like passports. The Online Safety Act already mandates "highly effective" age verification, but enforcement has been limited. Ofcom began implementing these rules last year, though many platforms still rely on AI-based age estimation through content analysis and user behavior patterns.

The government is consulting on potentially banning social media for under-16s, following Australia's lead, though practical implementation remains unclear. Some adult sites including Pornhub have already shut down UK operations, citing the Online Safety Act as unworkable. Starmer also criticized "addictive scrolling mechanisms" and urged platforms to limit children's exposure to endless content feeds, noting that while some companies have implemented such restrictions, others must follow suit.