Children are bypassing online age checks, including by drawing mustaches on their faces to get past verification

A UK survey by Internet Matters found children are bypassing online age checks with fake birthdates, other people’s accounts, VPNs, borrowed ID, and manipulated face images.

Many children say age verification is easy to evade, and some parents allow or overlook these workarounds.

The findings show harmful content can still reach children even after age-check systems are introduced.

The report suggests age verification alone is not enough; stronger design, enforcement, and parental involvement are needed.