March 27, 2026, 10:42 am | Read time: 2 minutes
More and more automated content and AI-generated posts are appearing online. Large platforms are under pressure because bots can influence discussions or spread opinions deliberately. Reddit also sees this as a growing problem for its community.
Update from March 27, 2026: Reddit has now officially spoken to TECHBOOK to clarify that there will not be platform-wide identity checks. Only a small portion of users will be affected, if at all, and only if there are “strong indications” of automated use. Users will then need to either register themselves as an app or prove they are a real person. It is not intended to be a general access restriction.
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CEO Steve Huffman explained in the TBPN Podcast that the company is considering new ways to distinguish real users from automated accounts.
Biometric Verification as a Possible Solution
Reddit is currently exploring new methods to better verify user accounts. These involve functions executed directly on the device, such as facial recognition or fingerprint sensors. A smartphone or computer could thus confirm that a human is indeed in front of the screen. According to the company, it’s important that no real names are introduced. The sole aim is to ensure that an account is used by a real person.
Also interesting: Data from children processed unlawfully? Reddit faces a hefty fine
Traditional verification methods are increasingly considered insecure. Confirmations via email address or phone number can be relatively easily bypassed, allowing automated accounts to be quickly created. Platforms are therefore seeking additional security levels that are harder to manipulate and require direct interaction with the respective device.
Experiences Due to Legal Requirements
Such procedures are not entirely new for Reddit. In the United Kingdom, the platform had to introduce stricter age controls. The background is the “Online Safety Act,” which requires additional verification measures. According to the guidelines of the regulatory authority Ofcom, various methods are possible, including age verification via facial scan, which Reddit has already had to implement.
It is still unclear if and when Reddit will actually use facial scans or fingerprints. There are already some critical voices. Co-founder Alexis Ohanian expressed skepticism on X, questioning whether such measures would be accepted by users. The discussion about new verification methods is likely to continue.