Bluesky Starts Age Verification in the UK Ahead of July 25 Deadline

Bluesky has begun requiring British users to verify their age, responding to strict new UK regulations set to take effect on July 25, 2025. Under the updated Online Safety Bill, social media platforms that fail to implement age verification could face fines of up to £18 million or 10% of their global annual turnover, whichever is higher.

The move is part of the UK’s efforts to protect minors online and ensure platforms do not distribute content deemed inappropriate for underage users.

Originally introduced in 2023 to regulate access to pornography, the UK’s Online Safety Bill now extends these requirements to social media platforms like Bluesky. The British regulator Ofcom has increased pressure in 2025, warning platforms to comply or face enforcement actions, including coercive measures and massive financial penalties.

Bluesky, seeing the looming July deadline, acted preemptively by rolling out age verification prompts for UK users this month.

To comply, Bluesky users in the UK are asked to prove their age using one of several methods:

This process is powered by Epic Games’ Kids Web Services (KWS), which also supports age verification on gaming platforms and other online services.

British users are first prompted to enter their email address to receive further instructions. Once verified, they gain full access to Bluesky’s features.

Users under 18 or those who decline verification face access restrictions:

Bluesky explained in its blog that these changes align with efforts to create a safer online environment for minors within its decentralized network.

“We’re working closely with the British government so users can feel secure on Bluesky,” the platform wrote. “In addition to these updates, we’re exploring further ways to protect children from unwanted content.”

Bluesky’s implementation reflects a growing trend among social platforms facing regulatory scrutiny. With Ofcom setting an aggressive enforcement deadline, other networks operating in the UK may soon follow suit.

This development raises questions about privacy and how platforms balance compliance with user trust, especially as verification methods like face scans and ID uploads become more common.

As the July 25 deadline approaches, Bluesky’s early compliance could set a standard for other decentralized and mainstream platforms navigating the UK’s evolving digital safety landscape.

Source: heise.de