Quote:All websites on which pornographic material can be found, including social media platforms, must introduce "robust" age-checking techniques such as demanding photo ID or running credit card checks for UK users by July.

The long-awaited guidance, issued by regulator Ofcom, has been made under the Online Safety Act (OSA), and is intended to prevent children from easily accessing pornography online.

Research indicates the average age at which young people first see explicit material online in the UK is 13 - with many being exposed to it much earlier.

"For too long, many online services which allow porn and other harmful material have ignored the fact that children are accessing their services", said Ofcom boss Melanie Dawes, adding: "today, this starts to change."