77% underage social media users enter fake dates of birth: report

London: Around 77% of social media users in the age group 8-17 are signing up on these platforms by entering fake dates of birth. UK-based media watchdog Ofcom said social media companies do not have a way to stop this practice.

The practice is problematic considering how children are spending more and more time online and socialising with a large number of people of all age groups. Ofcom in a statement said even when children are not online, they are talking with peers about the latest social media or gaming trends.

Children who are not on social media feel excluded from these conversations and friend groups. Peer pressure is acting as a big reason for the surge in fake dates of birth as well.

In most cases, parents of children between the ages of 8-12 help them in setting up social media accounts. They are motivated by an aspiration to ensure that their child does not miss out on anything.

On most platforms, the minimum age to create an account is 13. The new report proves that the method of self-declaring their age is not working. "This means that children under 13 need to say they're older than they actually are if they want to create an account," said the organisation.

In extreme cases, some children have fake dates of birth that show them to be as old as 50 years. One of the reasons behind this practice is their belief that children's profiles get limited experience. "So, they deliberately register as older."

Parents also allow under-13 children to fake their age despite knowing the rules of the platform. "This is perhaps because they feel comfortable making a judgement call about whether, for example, their ten-year-old can cope with content suitable for children aged 13 or older," said the Ofcom report.