UK Online Safety Act: Why Instagram Wants to Verify My Age

Age checks are now common in the UK. Here's what the law asks and how Instagram's check works.

Last checked: 29 October 2026 against the sources listed at the end of this guide.

#Why is Instagram asking me?

GOV.UK explains that the Online Safety Act requires platforms to protect children from harmful content and use age assurance where needed. Instagram may ask you to confirm your age if your details or activity suggest you might be under 18.

The UK government's Online Safety Act explainer says the Online Safety Act 2023 puts new duties on social media and search services to reduce illegal content and protect users, with the strongest protections for children. Platforms must prevent children from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content. Ofcom is the independent regulator and sets out how providers can meet their duties in codes of practice. The explainer says services likely to be accessed by children had until 24 July 2025 to complete children's risk assessments, with the child safety regime fully in effect by summer 2025.

#What are my options?

Meta's How video selfie age verification works page says you may be asked to verify your age by taking a video selfie or uploading your ID. With a video selfie, Meta shares an image from it with a vendor whose technology only estimates age and can't identify specific people, and Meta deletes the image within 30 days of the age being estimated. Make sure your whole face is visible, with good light and nothing like a mask or hat covering it. Verification can take up to 20 minutes, and you'll get a notification with the result.

#What if the check fails?

1. Retry in good light with your face fully visible.
2. Choose the ID option if the selfie estimate is wrong.
3. Use only Instagram's in-app flow.
4. If you're placed into a teen account wrongly, follow the appeal steps shown.

Related guides: Can't Change My Date of Birth on Instagram: Will a Wrong Age Get My Account Restricted?.

Instagram's About disabled accounts page notes that in certain regions, Instagram may disable accounts for people in a specific age range in line with local laws and regulations. If you think it was a mistake, log in and follow the on-screen instructions to request a review.

#What common mistakes should I avoid?

• Verifying through a link in an email or DM.
• Using someone else's ID.
• Retrying the selfie in poor light many times.
• Creating a new account with a different birthday.

Instagram's Review recent emails page says you can see official Instagram emails sent in the last 14 days from Settings: open Meta Account (or Accounts Center), then Login and security, then Recent emails. Security and login emails are listed under Security. Instagram says official security messages are only sent to your email address, from @support.facebook.com, @support.instagram.com, @facebookmail.com, @mail.instagram.com or @global.metamail.com, and that Instagram will never contact you about profile security through Direct Messages.

Instagram's About disabled Instagram accounts page says that if you think your account was disabled by mistake, you may be able to ask for a review by logging in and following the on-screen instructions. If the account was disabled, you'll see a message when you try to log in. If you don't see that message, Instagram says you may have a login problem, someone may have got into the account, or the account may have been deleted, and a deleted account can't be restored. Once an account is disabled, it is no longer visible to others.

Instagram's Secure your Instagram account page calls two-factor authentication the single most effective step to protect an account from hackers, because it asks for a code when someone logs in from a device Instagram doesn't recognise. It also recommends a strong, unique password you haven't used elsewhere, avoiding personal details like names and birthdays, and never giving your password to anyone you don't know and trust.

#How do I keep the account safe while I sort this out?

• Never share a login code, password or backup code with anyone, including people who say they work for Meta, the police or a recovery service.
• Make sure the email address and phone number on the account are ones you still control, and remove any you do not recognise.
• Turn on two-factor authentication where the platform offers it, ideally with an authenticator app, and keep your backup codes somewhere offline.
• Log in only from the official app or by typing the address yourself, not from links in messages, comments or ads.
• Keep screenshots of every notice, email and step you take, with dates, in case you need them for a review or a report.
• Make one careful attempt at each official step rather than many rushed ones, because repeated failed attempts can trigger extra checks.

#When It Is Safer to Get Expert Help

Ask for help before you appeal if the account matters to your income, your business or your memories, if you have already had one appeal rejected, or if you cannot tell whether the problem is a bug, a restriction or a hack. That is where most avoidable losses happen.

AwareXone is independent and not affiliated with Meta, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp or Threads. Recovery work is best-effort and the platform makes the final decision.