There is deep public concern about children being exposed to harmful content online, driven in part by the high-profile deaths of teenagers Molly Russell and Brianna Ghey.
It led the last government to pass the OSA which, from July 2025, will require social media platforms to implement what Ofcom calls “highly effective age assurance."
It has not specified what tech should be used to strengthen the verification process, but said it was testing several systems in its own laboratories and would have "more to say" in the new year.
The Molly Rose Foundation - set up in Molly Russell's memory - described the figures as "incredibly shocking", saying they showed how easy it was to get around current age checks online.
"This means that many children will not be protected from harmful suicide and self-harm content when regulation comes in because tech companies are failing to enforce their own rules," said chief executive Andy Burrows.