The UK has been working on multiple rules and laws for social media platforms so that their younger users can be protected from potentially harmful and traumatizing content. On July 25th, 2025, the Online Safety Act was implemented, which requires thousands of adult content platforms to implement an age verification step before people are able to access the content. Keep on reading to discover what this means, and how you can avoid this check!
No More NSFW Content For UK Users As A Result Of The UK Safety Act
The Only Safety Act, introduced in 2023, is a new set of rules and laws for social media platforms to protect their underage and adult users. These online platforms now have a “legal duty” to ensure the protection of children from a wide range of “harmful” content, such as:
- Pornography
- Eating Disorders
- Suicide
- Self-harm encouraging content
From July 25th, 2025, most social media platforms will have to enforce stricter rules on age verification. Clicking a box confirming you’re 18 or older is not enough anymore. Now, sites that offer content that belong to the “harmful” content list will have to verify the age of users in one of 3 ways: by age estimation via a Selfie of the user, by age estimation by looking at the user’s email address, or by a formal verification of the user’s valid ID.
While the intention is good and will protect kids from watching harmful content, it will be an extra step that people will have to go through when they want to watch NSFW content.
Reddit Already Implemented The Rules A Few Days Ago
A few days before the deadline for all platforms, Reddit already introduced the new age verification rules. However, they don’t process your data like your selfie or ID; they have an independent third party verifying the age of the users. The only thing that Reddit will see is the “approval status, your date of birth, and your username”. From the moment you’ve passed the verification once, you won’t have to do it again for the same account.
UK Porn Sites Will Have To Follow These Rules Too!
While Reddit has adopted the rule before July 25th, it won’t be the only online platform where UK visitors will have to identify themselves before they’re able to use all functionalities. In total, there will be over 6,000 adult content platforms that will now require visitors to verify their age by uploading selfies or showing their IDs. This is something you absolutely don’t want to do right before you’re having some well-deserved… “me-time”. But don’t worry, we have got a way to help you avoid the age verification steps. Keep on reading to discover what they are.
A VPN Will Help You Avoid These Steps
All individuals using these websites will need to verify their identity within the UK. However, other nearby countries have not yet implemented these rules. This would mean that people in the UK can use VPN services to “Change” their location to access these sites. If you choose a country that isn’t too far away from the UK, then you’ll be able to enjoy all the NSFW content without having to upload your personal data to some online company!
Featured Image Source: YourGov