Facebook: age checks in the UK

For some content or features. As of 18 October 2026, Facebook asks UK users to complete an age check for specific features, applying to accounts the service flags and accounts the service estimates to be under 18. Facebook’s UK-English Help Centre lists the video-selfie and ID routes without naming countries. Its Facebook Dating age-check page says “This feature is only available in some states.” and its phone-number age-verification page, read from the UK, says “This feature is not available in your location.” Facebook’s UK Help Centre lists the route without naming countries; no Meta page read states when it reached UK accounts. Meta’s May 2026 post gives June 2026 as the planned UK start on Facebook; no later Meta page read confirms it. Visual analysis is “currently available in select countries”.

A face scan (facial age estimation) is one of 3 recorded methods: Facial age estimation (face scan) (availability varies by jurisdiction), Photo ID and In-house age inference (availability varies by jurisdiction). Providers named: Yoti and Meta (in-house). Which methods a service offers can change; the date each was checked is shown on the page. Facebook’s UK-English Help Centre lists the video-selfie and ID routes without naming countries. Its Facebook Dating age-check page says “This feature is only available in some states.” and its phone-number age-verification page, read from the UK, says “This feature is not available in your location.” Facebook’s UK Help Centre lists the route without naming countries; no Meta page read states when it reached UK accounts. Meta’s May 2026 post gives June 2026 as the planned UK start on Facebook; no later Meta page read confirms it. Visual analysis is “currently available in select countries”.

Facial age estimation (face scan) (availability varies by jurisdiction) via Yoti: "Once your age has been estimated and shared with us, we will delete the image within 30 days. We don't share any other information about you with the vendor." (facebook.com; checked 18 October 2026). Photo ID via Yoti: "We'll delete your ID within 30 days." (facebook.com; checked 18 October 2026). In-house age inference (availability varies by jurisdiction) via Meta (in-house): No published retention period found (checked 18 October 2026). Facebook’s UK-English Help Centre lists the video-selfie and ID routes without naming countries. Its Facebook Dating age-check page says “This feature is only available in some states.” and its phone-number age-verification page, read from the UK, says “This feature is not available in your location.” Facebook’s UK Help Centre lists the route without naming countries; no Meta page read states when it reached UK accounts. Meta’s May 2026 post gives June 2026 as the planned UK start on Facebook; no later Meta page read confirms it. Visual analysis is “currently available in select countries”.

This site records what the service publishes; it does not troubleshoot or offer workarounds. Facebook's own help page is https://www.facebook.com/help/958848942357089/. The record lists 3 methods; availability depends on the service and account: Facial age estimation (face scan) (availability varies by jurisdiction), Photo ID and In-house age inference (availability varies by jurisdiction). If you do not complete the check, the service states: The birthday change or the adult-only feature does not go through. Facebook’s page on under-age reports: “We will delete the account if we can't verify that the account is managed by someone who is old enough to use Facebook.” Facebook’s UK-English Help Centre lists the video-selfie and ID routes without naming countries. Its Facebook Dating age-check page says “This feature is only available in some states.” and its phone-number age-verification page, read from the UK, says “This feature is not available in your location.” Facebook’s UK Help Centre lists the route without naming countries; no Meta page read states when it reached UK accounts. Meta’s May 2026 post gives June 2026 as the planned UK start on Facebook; no later Meta page read confirms it. Visual analysis is “currently available in select countries”.

Ofcom, 12 March 2026: Ofcom letter of 12 March 2026 to Facebook, Instagram, Roblox, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube: enforce minimum ages with highly effective age assurance and report back by 30 April 2026. Ofcom, 21 May 2026: Ofcom’s update on the responses to its 12 March letters: Meta “sent us a confidential letter” and “has not published its response”; Ofcom is “not currently convinced” that the commitments by Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok “ensure they will effectively prevent children under 13 from accessing their sites and apps”. Ofcom notes Meta shared recently announced changes to identify and remove under-13 accounts on Facebook and Instagram using enhanced AI, and committed to new content settings for under-18 Facebook users in the UK. Facebook’s UK-English Help Centre lists the video-selfie and ID routes without naming countries. Its Facebook Dating age-check page says “This feature is only available in some states.” and its phone-number age-verification page, read from the UK, says “This feature is not available in your location.” Facebook’s UK Help Centre lists the route without naming countries; no Meta page read states when it reached UK accounts. Meta’s May 2026 post gives June 2026 as the planned UK start on Facebook; no later Meta page read confirms it. Visual analysis is “currently available in select countries”.