Children will be forced to show identification to use social networks in Britain

Children risk being banned from social media under plans for strict new age controls unveiled by Ofcom, the regulator, on Wednesday.

Social media companies will be required to introduce rigorous controls, including the use of photo ID documents such as passports, to identify children using their sites and protect them from harm online.

Platforms like Facebook and Instagram, which require users to be at least 13, are expected to use controls to enforce age limits.

The move could result in millions of children being removed from social networking sites, as Ofcom research suggests up to 51 per cent of children aged three to 12 use at least one app or networking site social.