According to an official study, the majority of children who use social media applications hide their true age to access features aimed at adults and adolescents.

Most under-18s using apps such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat have entered fake birth dates to appear older than their real age, according to Ofcom.

Figures show the number of children bypassing age limits to use social media as the government prepares to implement new safety laws.

Most of the children said they had never been asked to prove their age, even though social networks claimed to have stepped up age verification in recent months.

A study commissioned by Ofcom and carried out by YouGov, of more than 1,700 children aged eight to 17, found that 58% of children on TikTok, 52% on Instagram and 56% on Snapchat had a date of birth on their profile to make them look older.

Users as young as eight years old reported being over 18 when using the apps.

Tech companies say they have introduced stricter age controls in recent years, in response to growing concerns about the use of social media. These include scanning personal IDs, estimating facial age, or asking a parent to confirm age.