From March 2025, all new and existing advertisers posting in our in adult categories must complete Identity Verification (IDV) to continue posting ads.

The affected categories are:

This will also apply to any users who verified their accounts before July 2024. This is because unfortunately, the versions of our verification process in place before July 2024 don’t meet the new requirements set out in the new Online Safety Act.

For this reason, anyone who verified their account before July 2024 will need to re-verify with the new, more secure process.

This step is not just a technical requirement; it’s a vital measure to ensure compliance with UK law by ensuring all advertisers in adult categories meet the required legal and ethical standards.

While this may not be welcome news to some users, we firmly believe that verifying these accounts is not just a compliance measure – it’s a proactive step toward creating a safer, more secure online environment.

We appreciate your cooperation as we implement this important process to better protect our community.

The Online Safety Act is a new UK law that protects children and adults online, placing new responsibilities on online platforms including Vivastreet. In March 2025, elements of the new law will come into effect, requiring us (and all other sites like ours) to verify that all advertisers in our adult categories are aged 18 or over.

If you would like to know more about the Online Safety Act, please click here.

YOTI ID is one of three Digital ID providers that has been accredited by the UK Government's national Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS), which is endorsed by the Home Office, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Security Industry Authority.

YOTI is a market leader in their field and provides our users with the safest and most secure option possible to verify their ID and keep their data safe.

Yoti is a global, trusted identity platform that allows users to safely and securely share personal details with businesses and individuals. Founded in 2014, Yoti is a free service and is a simple and efficient way to prove your identity online and in person.

Yoti keeps your personal details private with advanced encryption software to ensure your data is kept secure, preventing identity theft, fraud and data breaches. Simply, Yoti puts your privacy and anonymity first.

You can find further information about Yoti on their website.

If you need help completing the steps to verify, here's a handy guide from our Vivastreet blog.