Reddit Fined £14M for Inadequate Child Age Verification and Mismanagement of Children’s Personal Data

UK regulators have imposed a £14.47m fine on Reddit for its failure to verify users’ ages, thereby putting children at risk online.

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has imposed a fine of £14.47 million on Reddit for the unlawful use of children’s personal information. The regulator stated that the platform did not adequately verify the age of its users, thereby exposing children to inappropriate and harmful online content.

“It is troubling that a company as large as Reddit did not fulfill its legal obligation to safeguard the personal information of children in the UK,” stated John Edwards, UK Information Commissioner. Reddit stated that it “didn’t require users to share information about their identities, regardless of age, because we are deeply committed to their privacy and safety.”

The ICO stated that the fine pertains to “failures” that took place between 5 May 2018 and 8 July 2025, during which Reddit unlawfully processed data from children under 13. Online platforms that children are likely to access bear a legal responsibility to protect them, which includes ensuring that their data collection practices do not put them at risk.

Edwards stated that companies must ensure their understanding of their users’ ages and implement effective age verification measures for this purpose. “Reddit did not fulfill these expectations.” On 8 July 2025, Reddit initiated the process of verifying user ages to adhere to the Online Safety Act (OSA). Nonetheless, the ICO expressed disapproval of the platform’s earlier dependence on self-reported ages, labeling it as “simple to circumvent,” and stating that it will persist in overseeing compliance.

The ICO began its investigation into Reddit last March, in conjunction with TikTok and Imgur, due to concerns regarding their handling of children’s data. Although Reddit’s terms of service forbid users under the age of 13, estimates indicate that a significant number of children below this age have been present on the platform. As a result, the regulator determined that Reddit handled children’s data without a lawful foundation.

UK law mandates heightened vigilance when gathering data from children, as they may not fully comprehend the associated risks. The ICO stressed that Reddit “must do better” and is currently reviewing the age assurance measures that have been in place since July 2025. A spokesperson for Reddit expressed criticism about the ICO, stating that the demand for additional private information from users contradicts the platform’s dedication to privacy and safety. The organization plans to file an appeal.

In 2025, Reddit experienced significant growth in the UK, achieving the 12th position among all websites and ranking fourth among social media platforms. Following the implementation of OSA age verification, users who could not be verified faced restrictions on accessing specific adult content, which included various subreddits and user profiles.

The ICO will maintain its collaboration with Ofcom, the body responsible for enforcing the OSA, to ensure the protection of children online. Ofcom has recently imposed fines on several porn site operators for not implementing sufficient age verification measures, marking its largest OSA fine to date.

According to social media expert Matt Navarra, the ICO and Ofcom embody a “two-pronged regulatory approach” in the UK, as reported by the BBC. “The ICO emphasizes the importance of children’s data and sets design expectations, while wider online safety regulations drive the industry toward genuine age verification,” he stated. He noted that the Reddit fine marks a turning point, indicating that regulators now regard Reddit as a significant social platform with important child safety responsibilities.