(Commonwealth_Europe) Reddit is making a pretty big change in how it operates—especially for users in the U.K.—and it’s not one that longtime Redditors are likely to cheer for. Starting this week, the platform will begin verifying the ages of users before letting them access certain subreddits. This isn’t just a new policy Reddit came up with on its own; it’s happening because of the U.K.’s new Online Safety Act, which requires all online platforms to keep kids away from adult or age-inappropriate content. In simple terms: if you want to view NSFW or restricted content in the U.K., you’ll now need to prove that you’re old enough.
To do that, Reddit is teaming up with a third-party service called Persona. Users will have two options: they can either upload a selfie or a photo of a government-issued ID to verify their age. It’s worth noting that Reddit won’t see the images themselves—Persona handles that part—and the only thing Reddit will keep is your verification status and the birthdate you originally provided. That way, you won’t have to go through the process again every time you try to access restricted content. Persona says they’ll delete any uploaded photos within seven days and won’t be able to see any of your Reddit activity, like what subs you visit or what you post.
The new policy is a big shift for Reddit, which has always stood out from other social platforms by not requiring your real name or personal info. Unlike apps that focus on showing faces or building followings, Reddit has always prioritized anonymity, fostering quirky usernames and idea-driven conversations. That’s part of what’s made it feel like a different kind of online space—more genuine, rawer. But even Reddit admits that sometimes, knowing just a little more about users—like their age—can help keep the community safer.
The timing of this change isn’t random either. Recently, Reddit came under fire when it was revealed that a group of researchers had quietly dropped AI bots into the r/changemyview subreddit to see if artificial intelligence could convince people more effectively than actual humans. As it turns out, the bots did a surprisingly good job of changing minds, but the Reddit community was not happy about being unknowingly used in an experiment. That backlash sparked a broader conversation around trust and transparency on the platform.
In a way, this new age-checking system might be Reddit’s attempt to rebuild some of that trust by proving that users engaging in certain parts of the site are, at the very least, real people of the appropriate age. It’s not just about age gates anymore; it’s about being able to tell human from bot, or adult from kid, without totally stripping away what makes Reddit special.
And this might just be the beginning. Reddit says this kind of age verification could expand beyond the U.K. as more countries adopt similar regulations. Places like Australia are already experimenting with video-based age checks, and Reddit itself is reportedly exploring more advanced methods, including eye-scanning tech. That sounds wild now, but the way things are going, it might not be too far off.
Of course, not everyone’s going to be thrilled. Many longtime users are already wary of anything that even hints at a loss of anonymity. And let’s be honest—uploading a selfie or ID just to browse Reddit feels like a sharp turn from the site’s roots. But Reddit insists it’s doing its best to keep this new system as private and non-intrusive as possible. Your birthdate won’t be shown to other users or advertisers, and the goal is simply to help enforce safety measures, not track or profile anyone.
It’s difficult not to see the irony here. A platform once infamous for hosting some of the internet’s wildest content is now one of the first to seriously crack down on age access. Reddit’s new move comes in response to the demands of a new digital era, where safety, privacy, and concerns about losing anonymity are key issues.
