Apps That Use Age Checks - What UK Parents Should Know
The app checks a user's age, for example with a face scan, ID or other age check, for some or all features.
Why it matters
Age checks can keep younger children away from adult features, but they are not perfect and children sometimes find ways round them.
What to check
Make sure your child's account uses their real date of birth, so the app's age-based protections apply.
Apps with this feature
Features are based on what each of our app guides says. Apps change often, so check the app's own settings too.
Roblox Safety Guide for Parents
Official age 5+ · We suggest 10+
Roblox says nobody can use chat until they complete an age check
From our Roblox guide Setting: Age checkWhere: Child's own account: Settings → Account info → Continue with camera
Steam Safety Guide for Parents
Official age 13+ · We suggest 13+
Valve has required UK users to verify their age (for example via a card check) before viewing content flagged as mature
From our Steam guide YouTube Safety Guide for Parents
Official age 13+ · We suggest 13+
YouTube says it uses an age-estimation model to decide whether a user is over or under 18, whatever birthday is on the account
From our YouTube guide Instagram Safety Guide for Parents
Official age 13+ · We suggest 14+
Meta says it now also uses AI to spot suspected teens who list an adult birthday and place them in Teen Account protections
From our Instagram guide Snapchat Safety Guide for Parents
Official age 13+ · We suggest 14+
In the UK, Snap says it is rolling out age assurance to confirm which Snapchatters are over 18
From our Snapchat guide Discord Safety Guide for Parents
Official age 13+ · We suggest 15+
a one-time age verification to confirm they are 18 or over is needed to reach content its filters flag or to change certain settings
From our Discord guide Setting: Age group (Account Status)Where: User Settings → Account Status
Bluesky Safety Guide for Parents
Official age 13+ · We suggest 16+
UK age checks on Bluesky are used to gate specific things, such as unlocking direct messages or adult-rated content
From our Bluesky guide Character.AI Safety Guide for Parents
Official age 16+ · We suggest 18+
Character.AI says it also runs age assurance on accounts (using signals such as login information and activity, not just the birthday entered)
From our Character.AI guide Setting: Accurate Age on AccountWhere: Profile > Edit Profile > Date of Birth
Social Discovery & Friend-Making Apps
Official age 13+ · We suggest 18+
Age checks across this category range from a self-reported birthdate to a selfie scan, and none are foolproof
From our Social Discovery guide Teen Dating Apps: Grindr, Tinder & Bumble
Official age 18+ · We suggest 18+
major dating apps have introduced stronger checks such as facial age estimation
From our Dating Apps guide Yubo Safety Guide for Parents
Official age 18+ · We suggest 18+
Yubo says every user verifies their age by taking a live selfie video, which is checked against the birthdate they entered
From our Yubo guide Setting: Age VerificationWhere: At sign-up (live selfie video age check)
Related risk guides
Other features
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.