Opening a new social media account in the UK will soon mean proving you're over 16 with an ID upload or a facial age scan, under a government ban on under-16s taking effect in spring 2027. Security experts warn the age checks are easy to circumvent and create new data-breach risks.

The U.K. seems to be following Australia's lead in banning a wide swath of social media for teens.

The U.K. has, as widely expected, announced plans to ban social media for under-16s - but the controversy won't be going away any time soon.