TikTok Tightens Age Verification in Europe Amid Growing Regulatory Pressure

TikTok Tightens Age Verification Across Europe as Regulators Increase Pressure

TikTok has announced a major overhaul of its age-verification system across Europe, responding to mounting regulatory pressure and growing concerns over child safety on social media platforms. The move comes as European authorities intensify scrutiny under strict digital laws aimed at protecting minors from harmful online content.

According to the latest developments, TikTok will roll out an advanced age-checking system designed to better identify users under the age of 13. Unlike traditional self-reported age methods, the new system relies on artificial intelligence to analyze user behavior, profile information, and video activity to estimate a user’s age more accurately. This technology has already been tested through pilot programs in several European countries over the past year, where it reportedly helped detect thousands of underage accounts.

A key aspect of the updated policy is that accounts flagged as potentially underage will not be automatically deleted. Instead, they will be reviewed by trained human moderators who will assess the case before making a final decision. This hybrid approach is intended to reduce errors and ensure that legitimate adult users are not unfairly penalized.

The decision follows increasing pressure from European regulators enforcing the Digital Services Act (DSA), which places strict responsibilities on large tech platforms to protect children and ensure transparency. Authorities have repeatedly criticized social media companies for relying on weak age-verification systems that allow minors to bypass restrictions easily.

TikTok has also introduced an appeal process for users who believe their accounts were wrongly flagged. In such cases, users may be asked to verify their age through secure methods such as government-issued identification, facial age-estimation technology, or payment-based verification. The company has emphasized that all verification processes comply with European data protection laws and that sensitive information is not permanently stored.

Across Europe, lawmakers are increasingly vocal about limiting children’s exposure to social media. Several countries are debating stricter age limits, while others are pushing for unified digital identity solutions. Globally, similar trends are emerging, with some nations already enforcing higher minimum age requirements for social platforms.

Despite the announcement, privacy advocates remain cautious. Some experts argue that behavior-based age detection could lead to excessive monitoring of users. TikTok, however, maintains that its system prioritizes user privacy while improving child safety, stating that protecting minors is a “top operational priority” for the platform.

Overall, TikTok’s move represents a significant shift in how major social media companies respond to regulatory demands in Europe. As enforcement tightens, the platform’s updated age-verification system could become a benchmark for the industry. The development highlights a broader global push to balance innovation, user privacy, and the protection of young users in the digital age.