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The UK Online Safety Act is about to change how online businesses operate, particularly those offering age-restricted content or services. The law, which aims to protect minors from harmful digital experiences, places a legal obligation on businesses to verify user ages “accurately” and “effectively”. Platforms that fail to comply could face massive fines—up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue—as Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, begins strict enforcement.
For businesses, this means implementing robust age verification methods. But here’s the challenge: Many traditional approaches, like ID document uploads or biometric scans, introduce friction, slow down the user experience, and create privacy concerns. If users feel the process is too intrusive or cumbersome, they may simply abandon the platform—or worse, find unregulated alternatives.
That’s where Telesign’s age assurance solution comes in. By using just a mobile number, businesses can verify if a user is over 18 instantly, securely, and at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods. It’s a win-win: compliance without complexity.
The urgency of compliance: What businesses need to know
The Online Safety Act’s age verification requirements are already rolling out, and enforcement is ramping up fast. Ofcom has given platforms hosting adult content or potentially harmful material a clear deadline. By July 2025, any service that allows minors to access inappropriate content must have a highly effective age verification system in place. That doesn’t mean just asking users to self-declare their age. Simple checkboxes or easily bypassed age gates are no longer acceptable.
Ofcom has outlined several verification methods that meet its standards, including document ID checks, facial age estimation, and mobile network-based age checks. While these methods are technically effective, they come with trade-offs.
ID verification, for example, requires users to upload sensitive documents, which raises privacy concerns and slows down the sign-up process. Biometric age estimation, while more comprehensive, still requires users to submit a face scan, which not everyone is comfortable with. Credit card verification is another option, but it’s not foolproof—not everyone has a credit card, and some banks issue them to individuals under 18.
For businesses, the challenge is finding an approach that is fast, user-friendly, and cost-effective, while still meeting regulatory requirements. This is where mobile-based verification offers a compelling alternative.
Why mobile-based age verification is a smart solution
Telesign’s Age Verification solution removes friction from the verification process by using a user’s mobile number to determine if they meet the required age threshold. There’s no need for users to upload a passport, take a selfie, or enter payment details—just a simple, instant check using mobile carrier data. This approach makes sense for several reasons.
Speed
First, it’s significantly faster than traditional verification methods. Instead of waiting for a document to be scanned or a biometric check to process, users can be verified in seconds. That kind of speed is critical for businesses that rely on smooth user experiences—whether that’s an e-Commerce platform, a gaming site, or a social network with age-restricted features.
Cost
Cost is another factor. ID verification services and facial recognition solutions are expensive, often charging per check, which adds up quickly for businesses handling large user volumes. Mobile-based verification, on the other hand, is low-cost and highly scalable, making it a much more practical option for businesses that need to verify thousands – or even millions – of users.
Privacy
Then there’s privacy. Many users are hesitant to upload personal documents or provide biometric data. They worry about how that data will be stored, who has access to it, and whether it could be misused or leaked. With mobile verification, there’s no need for users to upload sensitive information—just their phone number, which is already a key part of most digital interactions. As phone numbers are considered personal data, at Telesign, we have strict security measures in place to protect them in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
Where businesses need age verification the most
The impact of the Online Safety Act is broad, affecting industries from online gaming to e-Commerce and social media. Any platform that offers age-restricted content or services needs a seamless way to verify users without discouraging legitimate customers.
Online gaming and betting platforms: the stakes are high. Gambling laws already require strict age verification, and with the new regulations, online casinos and betting sites must ensure that underage users can’t slip through the cracks. Mobile-based verification provides a quick, frictionless way to confirm legal gambling age without forcing users through a complicated process.
Adult content sites face even stricter scrutiny under the Online Safety Act. Ofcom has made it clear that age verification for pornography sites must be rigorous and fully implemented by mid-2025. That means simply asking users to confirm they’re 18 won’t cut it anymore. While document-based verification is an option, many users are reluctant to provide personal information when accessing sensitive content. Mobile-based verification offers a discreet, user-friendly alternative.
E-Commerce platforms selling age-restricted goods—like alcohol, tobacco, or vaping products—also need to adapt. Customers expect instant checkouts, not long-winded verification processes that slow down their purchase. Mobile-based age verification allows businesses to comply with UK retail laws while keeping the customer experience smooth.
Social media platforms and content-sharing sites are another major area of focus. With new regulations forcing platforms to assess whether their content is likely to be accessed by children, businesses must either restrict content based on age or implement effective verification to keep minors from seeing inappropriate material. The challenge is doing so without alienating users. Telesign’s approach enables instant verification without frustrating sign-up barriers, helping platforms comply without hurting user engagement.
Now is the time to act
With enforcement deadlines approaching fast, businesses can’t afford to delay. Compliance is mandatory and companies that fail to implement proper age verification will face severe penalties. But at the same time, compliance shouldn’t come at the cost of customer experience, privacy, or excessive operational expenses.
Telesign’s mobile-based Age Verification solution strikes the right balance: providing fast, cost-effective, and privacy-conscious verification that keeps businesses compliant without frustrating users. As the UK Online Safety Act reshapes digital safety standards, businesses must adopt solutions that are not only effective but also practical and user-friendly.
The bottom line? Age verification doesn’t have to be complicated or invasive. With Telesign, businesses can meet regulatory requirements seamlessly, keeping their platforms safe while ensuring a smooth, trusted experience for users.
To learn more about how Telesign’s Age Verify can help your business stay compliant, explore the solution here.
