The UK media regulator, Ofcom, has issued a stern warning to social media companies, emphasising the need for robust age verification measures to prevent children from posing as adults online. This comes in light of a recent survey revealing that 22% of children aged eight to 17 falsely claim to be 18 or older on social media platforms. Despite the Online Safety Act (OSA) mandating enhanced age verification from 2025, Ofcom’s findings indicate that many platforms are still falling short. Ian Mccrae, Director of Market Intelligence at Ofcom, described the situation as “alarming” and stressed the urgency for tech firms to meet the new legal standards. He warned that companies failing to comply could face enforcement actions, including fines of up to 10% of their global revenue.