Social media platform Bluesky will require age verification for users in the United Kingdom to comply with the country’s Online Safety Act. Under new regulations enforced by Ofcom, services hosting adult content must deploy “highly effective age checks” starting July 25, 2025. Platforms failing to comply face fines of up to £18 million ($24 million) or 10 percent of their global revenue.
To meet these requirements, Bluesky plans to introduce a verification system for UK users that offers multiple options, including facial scan technology, government ID checks, or payment card validation. The company has partnered with Epic Games’ Kids Web Services (KWS) to deliver these verification tools. Bluesky confirmed that UK users will receive notifications on the platform prompting them to complete the age verification process as the deadline approaches. Users who either choose not to verify their age or who are confirmed to be under 18 will face restrictions on accessing adult content and certain features, such as direct messaging.
Context of Growing Global Regulations
The move by Bluesky reflects a broader global trend as governments grapple with how to keep minors away from adult content and other potentially harmful online material. In the United States, the Supreme Court ruled on June 27, 2025, in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, upholding Texas’s HB 1181. That law requires websites with adult content to conduct age verification checks on visitors. Several states, including Utah, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, have passed similar legislation. For example, Utah enacted SB 287 in March 2024, imposing mandatory age checks for certain online services.
These developments have sparked intense debates among privacy and digital rights advocates, who warn that age assurance technologies might increase surveillance and compromise users’ personal data. Similar concerns emerged during Australia’s rollout of online safety laws, where critics pointed to potential false positives from facial scans and the risk of extensive data collection by private vendors and government agencies.
Industry Response and Future Outlook
Faced with significant potential fines under the UK’s Online Safety Act, platforms like Bluesky are moving swiftly to implement compliance measures. While some users have voiced concerns about privacy, others see the move as a necessary step to protect children online. Bluesky stated in its announcement that it will continue evaluating its approach to shielding young people from inappropriate content and plans to identify ways to improve its systems further.
The coming months will be critical for platforms operating in the UK as they balance compliance with user privacy expectations. Bluesky’s decision to partner with KWS signals how tech companies might increasingly rely on third-party providers to manage complex verification processes. Whether these measures satisfy both regulators and privacy advocates remains to be seen as the new rules come into force later this month.
Sources: The Verge, The Hans India, Engadget
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By Ji-seo Kim
