Google Rolls Out AI-Powered Age Estimation Technology Across Its Platforms

Google is experimenting with machine-learning powered age estimation tech in the U.S. | TechCrunch

Google is testing a machine-learning-powered tech in the U.S. to determine the age of users and filter content across all its products accordingly. The company said it will consider data from Google accounts, including types of details users have searched for or categories of videos they have watched on YouTube, to determine the age. If the company's tool decides that a user is under 18, they would get an email with details about how Google products might change for them. For these users, Google will disable the timeline in Maps, stop personalized ads, restrict age-restricted ad categories, and bar them from accessing adult-themed apps on the Play Store. The company will also turn on digital wellbeing features on YouTube, such as break reminders and "go to bed" notifications when consuming videos late at night. Plus, it will prevent underage users from accessing certain kinds of content -- such as content that could trigger body image issues -- repeatedly. If users think they have been tagged as an underage account by mistake, they can appeal the decision and prove their age using a photo of their government ID or a selfie. Google rolled out similar measures for YouTube earlier this week, and now the company is experimenting with machine-learning-based age gating in the U.S. for Google accounts at large. The company said that it has experimented with age estimation tech in some markets (without specifying which ones), and it worked well. "Age assurance helps us ensure that adults can access the information and services they need, while also applying the right protections for our younger users. Our approach to age assurance uses a combination of age estimation and, when necessary, age verification," Google said in a post. Other platforms, including Instagram and Roblox, have also started using AI to estimate the age of their users. Lawmakers have been at work to put in rules related to serving appropriate content to minors. In the U.S., several states have existing or proposed laws around age gating. Meanwhile, platforms have also started age verification in the UK following the passing of the Online Safety Act.

YouTube's Age-Estimation Tech Will Spot Kids Pretending to Be Adults. Here's How It Works

Alex Valdes from Bellevue, Washington has been pumping content into the Internet river for quite a while, including stints at MSNBC.com, MSN, Bing, MoneyTalksNews, Tipico and more. He admits to being somewhat fascinated by the Cambridge coffee webcam back in the Roaring '90s. If kids are lying about their age, YouTube will know about it. Or at least will try to find out. The streaming service announced it's rolling out age-estimation technology that will use various data to determine if someone is under the age of 18, and then use that signal "to deliver our age-appropriate product experiences and protections." Basically -- assuming it works as it should -- kids will not be able to access what YouTube deems as age-restricted content. Google, YouTube's parent company, announced in February that it would begin deploying this type of technology, which relies on AI, to determine users' ages. YouTube said it will test the machine-learning tech on a small set of users in the US to estimate their age. Some of the signals they will look at include "the types of videos a user is searching for, the categories of videos they have watched, or the longevity of the account." After ensuring the age-verification is working as intended, YouTube will then roll it out more widely. The move is another step in the growing age-verification push that is being hastened by the US and other governments trying to prevent children from accessing content deemed harmful, unhealthy and not appropriate for their age. If its age-estimation system decides someone is under 18, YouTube will then: People who are actually adults but who have been wrongly identified as children will be able to verify that they are 18 or older by using a credit card or a government ID.

YouTube will identify and restrict minors' accounts with AI

Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. YouTube will soon begin using AI-powered age estimation technology to figure out which users are under the age of 18. Starting August 13th, YouTube will detect underage users in the US based on their activity and the age of their account, allowing the platform to automatically apply restrictions. These accounts will get the same protections YouTube already offers to users who identify themselves as under 18, including a block on age-restricted videos, non-personalized ads, "take a break" notifications, and a limit on repeated video recommendations about sensitive topics, such as body image. The platform will also automatically turn on reminders about privacy when users upload a video or leave a comment. Google first announced plans to use machine learning to power age estimation earlier this year, which aligns with a global crackdown on child safety online. Last week, the UK's online age verification rules went into effect, requiring users to verify their ages on sites with porn or content deemed "harmful." Several states have passed laws blocking minors from accessing porn sites, while efforts to age-gate social media platforms have largely fallen flat. The European Union is also testing an age verification prototype that it will eventually link with digital IDs. YouTube will notify users if it determines they are under 18, but if the platform gets it wrong, users can verify their age by uploading a government ID, taking a selfie, or entering a credit card. The platform notes that some creators may "experience a shift in their audience categorized as teens," potentially resulting in less ad revenue, since minors aren't shown personalized ads. "Over the next few weeks, we'll begin to roll out machine learning to a small set of users in the US to estimate their age, so that teens are treated as teens and adults as adults," James Beser, YouTube's director of product management, writes in a post explaining the change. Beser adds that YouTube will "closely monitor" the update before rolling it out to other countries.

Google is using AI age checks to lock down user accounts

Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Google will soon cast an even wider net with its AI age estimation technology. After announcing plans to find and restrict underage users on YouTube, the company now says it will start detecting whether Google users based in the US are under 18. Age estimation is rolling out over the next few weeks and will only impact a "small set" of users to start, though Google plans on expanding it more widely. The company says it will use the information a user has searched for or the types of YouTube videos they watch to determine their age. Google first announced this initiative in February. If Google believes that a user is under 18, it will apply the same restrictions it places on users who proactively identify as underage. In addition to enabling bedtime reminders on YouTube and limiting content recommendations, Google will also turn off Timeline in Maps, disable personalized advertising, and block users from accessing apps for adults on the Play Store. In case Google incorrectly identifies someone as under 18, users can submit a photo of their government ID or a selfie to verify their age. The move comes amid a global push for age verification, with politicians in the US pressuring tech companies to make their platforms safer for kids, and the UK widely rolling out an age verification requirement affecting platforms like Bluesky, Reddit, Discord, and even Spotify.

YouTube is using AI to verify your age now - and if it's wrong, that's on you to fix

AI age verification is coming to YouTube, and it's almost certainly going to be a frustrating process for some people. Also: How to download YouTube videos for free - 2 ways, including my favorite In an announcement yesterday, the streaming video service says it's "extending our built-in protections" by letting AI predict your age. If the system thinks you're under 18 based on your actions, your account will automatically receive age restrictions. YouTube says it will use AI to interpret "a variety of signals" that determine whether a user is over or under 18. This includes the type of videos you search, the category of videos you watch, and the age of the account. When I reached out for more information on this, a YouTube representative stressed that the age-estimation model "does not collect any new information not already associated with the account." Also: Some YouTube TV subscribers can save $60 with this trick - here's how If a user is identified as under 18, YouTube says users will be notified and provided a link to prove their age. In the meantime, YouTube will automatically apply age-appropriate protections like disabling personalized advertising, turning on digital wellbeing tools (including a screen timer, bedtime reminder, and break reminder), and safeguards to recommendations like limiting repetitive views of some kinds of content. The wellbeing protections have been around since 2023, but they were applied to accounts that honestly shared the age of the user. YouTube explained that it has tried this system in other locations and that it has worked well so far. Here's the part that's going to frustrate some users: YouTube is leaving it up to you to fix any problems with this process. If the AI falsely identifies you as under 18 and implements restrictions, you'll have to go through a verification process to prove your age. YouTube's release only mentioned providing a credit card or government ID, but when I reached out, a representative explained that you can also provide a selfie. If you can't verify your age through one of those means, the restrictions won't be removed. Also: I'm a long-time YouTube video producer - these 3 AI tools help me do it better and faster Especially since account age is considered (my own Gmail and YouTube accounts are old enough to have graduated college at this point), it seems like this might affect users right at the age limit the most. Users right around 18 probably have a government ID, but there's a good chance many don't have a credit card, so a selfie verification might be the way to go. YouTube isn't the first platform to introduce AI age verification (Instagram rolled them out just a few months ago), but it's the only one I could find that leaves the burden of correction to the user. Get the morning's top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter.

Not just YouTube: Google is using AI to guess your age based on your activity - everywhere

If AI guesses wrong, you'll need to go through a verification process. A day after announcing AI-powered age verification on YouTube, which we explained in more detail yesterday, Google is launching it on a larger scale, and again it's on you to sort out any problems if AI guesses wrong. Also: Google Chrome for iOS now lets you switch between personal and work accounts In a post announcing "a safer online experience for US kids and teens," Google says it's introducing new technology to distinguish between older and younger users. This technology will analyze your online activity and make an attempt at guessing your age. If it thinks you're under 18, your account will be restricted until you can prove you're older. This process has been in testing in other markets, and Google says it worked well. Google says its age-estimation model uses machine learning to interpret "a variety of signals." It notes that these signals are already associated with your account and that it's not gathering any new information. These signals include the types of information you search for on YouTube, the categories of videos you watch, and the age of the account itself. Also: You can ask Gemini AI anything directly in Google Chrome - here's how and why you should Even though the age restrictions apply to multiple Google products and services, it seems like YouTube is the only potential source of age information for now outside of how long ago you created your account. When Google thinks a user is under 18, several things will happen. First, the user will see a notification and a link to verify their age if they are over 18. The user will receive an email, too, explaining how settings have changed and how adults can verify their age. If AI guesses wrong and falsely flags you as under 18, you'll need to upload a credit card or government ID, or take a selfie to restore your account. Also: How to turn off Gemini in your Gmail, Docs, Photos, and more - it's easy to opt out If age isn't verified, Google will turn on YouTube Digital Wellbeing tools (which include things like bedtime and break reminders and safeguards on content recommendations), disable Timeline in Maps, turn off personalized advertising, and prevent the user from accessing Google Play apps intended for adults. Google insists the technology has worked well in other settings, but you have to wonder how accurate it will be. Could letting your kids watch enough YouTube on a road trip trick Google into thinking you have a kid's profile? Will savvy kids figure out they need to watch just enough normal content to avoid restrictions? Age assurance is coming to "a small set of users in the US" over the next few weeks before a wider rollout later in the year.

YouTube Plans to Use AI to Detect If US Viewers Are Under 18

Alphabet Inc.'s YouTube will soon begin using artificial intelligence to determine whether viewers in the US are under the age of 18, following increased pressure on the biggest tech companies to strengthen online safety for children. In a blog post Tuesday, the company said it will leverage AI to "interpret a variety of signals" including a user's video searches, the categories of content they typically watch and the longevity of their YouTube account to estimate their age. For users believed to be under age 18, YouTube will automatically apply its standard protections for teen accounts.

YouTube is turning over age verification to AI

YouTube will start using machine learning to determine whether viewers should be on a teen account. The company it plans to start using this AI application on a subset of US users in the coming weeks for a trial before rolling it out to the rest of the market. The tool will assess user behaviors including the types of videos being searched for, the categories of videos watched and how long the account has existed. When an account is deemed by machine learning to belong to a teen, YouTube will disable personalized advertising, activate digital wellbeing tools and add other safeguards for its younger users. Since introducing in 2021, YouTube has continued to add aimed at its younger users. The company noted that it has been using this machine learning approach "in other markets for some time, where it is working well." YouTube isn't the only service to leverage an AI tool to catch users who might be lying about their age. However, it's putting the burden of correcting false positives on its users: "If the system incorrectly estimates a user to be under 18, they will have the option to verify that they are 18 or over, such as using a credit card or a government ID." Meta has it began rolling out across Facebook, Instagram and Messenger earlier this year, but it lets people simply change their settings if the AI tool incorrectly guesses their age.

YouTube is using AI to verify user age based on viewing habits

In brief: YouTube is expanding its use of AI to determine if someone is 18 years old or older in the US. The platform is using machine learning to assess user behavior and estimate a person's age based on the content they watch and search for. YouTube writes that it will use AI to determine if a signed-in user is over or under 18 based on the types of videos they search for, the categories of videos they have watched, or how long they have held an account - regardless of what birthday they put down on their account. Should someone be flagged as being underage by the system, YouTube will automatically apply its age-appropriate experiences and protections. These include disabling personalized advertising, activating wellbeing tools, and adding safeguards to recommendations - such as limiting repetitive views of certain types of content. Should the system incorrectly identify someone as under 18, which sounds like it could happen quite easily, the onus will be on the user to prove their age. This can be done using a credit card, government ID, or selfie. The company said that it will only allow those who have been inferred or verified as over 18 to view age-restricted content on YouTube that may be inappropriate for younger people. YouTube will start testing the age-detection system in the coming weeks among a small set of US users. It will closely monitor this test before rolling it out more widely. The Google-owned firm added that it has used this method in other markets for some time, where it is apparently working well. YouTube remains the most popular online platform among under-18s, with 73% using it daily, according to Pew Research Center's data. In related news, YouTube is currently arguing its case to be exempted from Australia's social media ban for under-16s - it doesn't think it falls into the category of a social media platform. Australia's former communications minister Michelle Rowland had promised the site that it would be exempt from the under-16s ban, but the eSafety commissioner last month recommended that it be included, citing research that showed 37% of surveyed children who had seen or heard potentially harmful content online had encountered it on YouTube.

Get ready to be embarrassed: YouTube will start using your view history to guess if you're an adult

YouTube will use AI to flag accounts based on teen-like usage patterns, and ask these users to prove their age. We're currently in the middle of a rather regrettable trend taking hold across the globe, as online services increasingly demand that users positively authenticate themselves -- or at the very least establish their ages. Over in the UK they're all having a bunch of fun* (fun not guaranteed) with the Online Safety Act right now, and the US is likely to face a new wave of similar requirements, after a bad Supreme Court ruling last month. Earlier this year, YouTube shared some of its own plans for age verification, and it's now getting ready to flip the switch.

Google's AI age tests will have consequences that extend far beyond YouTube

The system works by using machine learning to analyze how you use your account, including the types of things you search for, what you watch on YouTube, and other behavioral patterns. If the algorithm thinks you're under 18, you'll get a prompt asking you to verify your age, either by uploading an ID or taking a selfie. Google says it's trying to avoid unnecessary data collection and will only ask for proof when needed. If you don't verify, or if the system gets it right, you'll be pushed into a more limited version of Google's ecosystem by default. That means Digital Wellbeing tools like bedtime reminders on YouTube, no personalized ads, no Timeline history in Google Maps, and no access to age-restricted apps in the Play Store. Some of those changes are genuinely positive for protecting younger users, but it's only a matter of time before wrongly flagged adults start getting frustrated. To be fair to Google, the whole tech industry is under pressure to do more to protect kids online. Still, there's something a little unsettling about having an AI model scan your habits and decide you're not old enough for certain content -- especially if it gets it wrong. If your account is new or you've been binge-watching MrBeast challenges and Taylor Swift reaction videos, you might find that Google starts nagging you to go to bed at a reasonable hour.

Forget age verification, YouTube now tells teens from adults by their taste in videos

Massive T-Mobile data breach payments prove all settlements aren't created equal In recent months, age checks online have become one of the top priorities for governments and tech giants alike. Everyone is now focused on figuring out how old users really are to make sure they're seeing content that actually fits. Earlier this year, Google said it would lean on machine learning to figure out users' ages and block minors from slipping into adult corners of the internet. Now, YouTube is following through in the US, gradually rolling out its own age-guessing system to spot teens and tweak the experience to better suit them. Related New YouTube rules require adult supervision for certain livestreams 13 going on 16 Posts 3 YouTube just shared in a blog post that it's moving beyond relying on the birthday you typed in at sign-up. Instead, it'll use different clues, backed by a machine learning model, to guess if you're under 18. If the system thinks you are, it'll automatically turn on age filters to make your viewing experience safer and more age-appropriate. Once flagged as a teen, users get extra layers of protection: no personalized ads, limits on binge-watching certain content, and digital well-being tools like screen time tracking and bedtime nudges. These protections aren't brand new, as they've been in place for teens who verified their age. What's changing now is that YouTube will apply them even if it just thinks you're under 18, based on its AI guesswork. Flagged as a teen? Here's how to prove you're not If the system gets it wrong and flags an adult as a teen, there's a fix. You'll be able to prove your age with a government ID, a credit card, or even a quick selfie. Only folks who pass that check -- or who the system confidently sees as over 18 -- will be able to watch age-restricted content. YouTube's new AI age-check system is rolling out to a small batch of US users over the next few weeks. The company says it will be watching closely to see how it goes before pushing it out more widely. Google is not alone here, with Meta also tapping into AI to tackle the same issue. With the spotlight on online child safety in the US, platforms are under pressure to actually enforce age limits. The problem is that kids can just fake their age, and without smarter tools, companies can't do much to stop them from seeing stuff they shouldn't.

YouTube Thinks It Can Determine Your Age Based on the Videos You Watch

Summary YouTube is implementing AI to determine users' ages based on viewing habits, not stated birthdates. If deemed underage, users must verify their age with ID to access age-restricted content. YouTube plans to test the new AI system on select US users before extending it, aiming to tackle inappropriate content. The internet is always changing, and so are the ways that platforms try to keep you safe. YouTube is rolling out a new AI system to figure out if you're over or under 18 -- regardless of the birthday you put down. To be perfectly clear, this has nothing to do with what you told YouTube your age is. Instead, the system will look at your viewing habits and try to figure it out. Are you searching for specific types of videos? What categories do you watch most often? How long have you had your account? All these factors will feed into its decision. If the AI decides you're underage, YouTube will automatically switch on its age-appropriate features. That means no more personalized ads, extra "wellbeing" tools, and even safeguards for your recommendations to stop you from watching the same kind of stuff repeatedly. Related 19 Seconds of History: The First YouTube Video Is 20 Years Old 20 years ago, a 19-second video in crisp 240p changed everything. You might not remember it, but a humble video simply titled "Me at the zoo" quietly marked the dawn of a new era. Oh, how far we've come since then. Posts Obviously, there are going to be false flags with this system. If YouTube's AI incorrectly decides you are underage, it'll be up to you to prove you're not. Get ready to pull out a credit card, government ID, or even a selfie to set the record straight. Only after you've been verified as an 18+ adult will you be able to access age-restricted content again. YouTube plans to start this test with a small group of users in the US in the coming weeks, keeping a close eye on how it performs before a wider rollout. They claim this method is already working well in other markets. Considering YouTube is hugely popular among kids, it's no surprise Google is working on this. Inappropriate content has been a big problem for the platform. Whether or not AI is the way to do it is yet to be seen. People's viewing habits and interests don't necessarily correlate with their age. If this is rolled out on a wider scale, it would likely result in a lot of false flags. Source: TechSpot Related 6 YouTube Hacks Every Beginner Should Know YouTube is my favorite place to spend free time, whether learning new skills or watching videos I enjoy. But most of us miss out on features that can make YouTube even better to use. If you're new to YouTube or looking to use the platform efficiently, here are some tips you must know. Posts 8

Not just YouTube: Google now auto-detects teen accounts to restrict underage users

I finally found the perfect note-taking app after years of switching back and forth YouTube is done trusting the birthday you type in, so it's now using AI to figure out if you're a teen or an adult, then acting accordingly. Just a day later, Google said it's taking that same approach and applying it across all US accounts to spot minors and apply the right restrictions. Related New YouTube rules require adult supervision for certain livestreams 13 going on 16 Posts 3 Google announced today that it is launching a new system that flags accounts it thinks belong to users under 18 and applies age-based limits. It's starting small, but if all goes well, a wider rollout is on the way. The goal here is to give teens a more age-appropriate online space. If Google thinks you're under 18, it'll shut off personalized ads, turn on digital wellbeing features like break reminders, and limit how often you see certain types of content. It'll also turn off your Maps Timeline and block adult-rated apps on the Play Store. Google is not just going by the age you enter anymore. Instead, it'll use your activity, like what you search and watch on YouTube, to make an educated guess. The company has not shared all the signals it will use, but it's more than just surface-level stuff. AI might get it wrong -- here's how to fix it Verifying you're an adult is simple (if you are) Since AI is running the show, there's a chance it could mistake an adult for a teen. If that happens, the account gets locked into safety mode until the user confirms their age. Related How to set up Identity Check on your Pixel phone Prevent others from accessing sensitive info on your phone Posts If Google's AI gets it wrong and flags an adult as underage, you can fix it by verifying with a credit card or government ID. But if the system already sees you as over 18 based on your activity, you'll just get the regular Google setup. Google's new age-check system is landing right as the internet shifts toward stricter age verification. Recently, the Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring age checks on adult sites, and other states are rolling out similar rules. While the goal is to protect teens from harmful or addictive content, there's concern it could also limit their access to online communities and ways to connect.

Google's AI Age Check Could Lock Down Your Account

Summary Google is using AI to identify minors online. Restrictions will be applied based on AI's assessment. Users can appeal misclassifications by verifying their age with an ID or selfie. The rise of age verification laws seek to prevent kids from entering websites they shouldn't use, but it will also inconvenience a lot of fully-grown users trying to use the internet normally. Google is taking a step forward and will try to guess the age of its users -- and the best part, it's also applying to the US as well, even as there's no federal age verification law just yet. Google rolling out a new system designed to identify and apply restrictions to accounts it believes belong to individuals under the age of 18. Initially, it will affect what Google describes as a "small set" of users, but if this testing goes well, it will probably eventually apply to all users down the road. The system will not rely on people self-reporting their age (so it will be ignoring the age you put down when you signed up for a Google account -- kids lie in those all the time) but will instead infer it by analyzing their activity across Google's platforms. Indicators will include a user's search history and the types of videos they watch on YouTube, and there might be other factors Google is not disclosing yet. If the AI system determines that a user is likely a minor, a series of default restrictions will be automatically applied to the account. These are the same restrictions an account would have if a minor identified itself properly as a minor at the time of signing up for an account. On YouTube, the platform will enable features like bedtime reminders and will limit content recommendations. For Google Maps, the "Timeline" feature, which logs your location history, will be disabled. Personalized advertising will be turned off for these users, and access to mature and adult-rated applications on the Google Play Store will be blocked. Related Google Is Mixing Up Your Search Results Reinventing the wheel. Posts We just wrote about YouTube doing the exact same thing, but Google published a separate announcement from YouTube's. So this helps to clarify that it won't affect just YouTube users, but this will be in place throughout the entirety of the Google ecosystem. AI can, and often does, make incorrect judgments. So Google has an appeals process in place for this. Users who are wrongly classified as underage (maybe the AI misunderstood some signals or maybe you handed your phone to a kid and they played Baby Shark 30 times in a row) will have the option to verify their correct age. This can be done by submitting a photograph of a government-issued ID or by providing a selfie for verification purposes. Hopefully, this won't make a ton of mistakes, but I'm sadly not too hopeful. Source: Google via The Verge

YouTube's new AI age verification is coming soon -- here's what's going to change

AI will assess whether an account belongs to an adult or a teen YouTube is going to start relying on AI to determine whether or not an account belongs to a teen or an adult, and take actions as a result. In a recent blog post, YouTube announced machine learning would "interpret a variety of signals that help us to determine whether a user is over or under 18". If the AI believes the account is being operated by a teen, it will automatically apply age-appropriate protections, including: YouTube says it plans to start testing this approach on a small subset of users in the US over the coming weeks as a trial, before rolling it out to the rest of its users. The company notes it has been using this approach in other markets "for some time" and is now bringing it to the U.S. So, how does it work? According to the blog post, the various signals the AI will look for include things like the longevity of the account and the types of videos that account is most often searching for. Additionally, it will pick up and monitor the categories of videos the user is watching to reach a conclusion. With AI doing the heavy lifting there's always the possibility it gets something wrong and accidentally flags an adult user as a teen. At which point, the safeguards will click on like a key in the lock and that account holder will have to prove their age. YouTube says that in such cases a credit card or government ID will be needed to verify the user is over 18. Until that step has been completed, they won't be able to watch any age-restricted content. AI is infiltrating YouTube beyond just age verification. Last month, the site launched 'AI powered carousels' for YouTube Premium members which are intended to help surface information more quickly. The feature kicks in when you're searching for something related to shopping, places, or things to do. Like an AI Overview on a Google search, it will highlight relevant clips from videos in a carousel you can flick through.

YouTube is using AI to verify user age by browsing activity

Credit: Mateusz Slodkowski / SOPA Images/ LightRocket via Getty Images. The video platform announced that it's rolling out technology that will determine whether a user is over or under 18. In a blog post today, YouTube said its AI will "interpret a variety of signals" in this determination, including the kinds of videos a user searches for, the categories of videos they watch, and the longevity of a user's account. "YouTube was one of the first platforms to offer experiences designed specifically for young people, and we're proud to again be at the forefront of introducing technology that allows us to deliver safety protections while preserving teen privacy," said the company. If a user is found to be under 18, YouTube will "automatically" apply its age-appropriate protections, the company said. These protections will include turning on digital wellbeing tools, disabling personalized advertising, and adding safeguards to recommendations. However, if the system incorrectly finds a user to be under 18, they'll be able to verify their age by using a credit card or a government ID. YouTube will start testing the AI system with a small set of U.S.-based users over the coming weeks. The platform is a teen favorite. According to research by the Pew Research Center in 2023, one in five teenagers says they use YouTube and TikTok "almost constantly." YouTube was found to be reigning amongst this age group -- even surpassing TikTok -- with 93 percent of teens saying they regularly use the service.

YouTube to gauge US users' ages with AI after UK and Australia add age checks

Tech company says it will use machine learning to estimate ages in order to show users in US age-appropriate content YouTube announced on Tuesday that it will begin to use artificial intelligence to estimate the ages of users in the US, in order to show them age-appropriate content. The rollout of the new feature comes one day after Australia's government announced it would ban children under 16 from using YouTube and less than a week after the UK implemented sweeping age checks on content on social networks. YouTube's AI age verification on its home turf indicates it is putting into place a form of compliance with the Australian and UK requirements, despite its persistent opposition to age-check requirements. "Over the next few weeks, we'll begin to roll out machine learning to a small set of users in the US to estimate their age, so that teens are treated as teens and adults as adults," wrote James Beser, director of product management for YouTube Youth, in a blog post titled Extending our built-in protections to more teens on YouTube. YouTube was promised an exemption from Australia's social media ban last year by the then communications minister, but the Australian government said on Monday that the platform would, in fact, be included in the country's ban on children under 16 using social networks. The ban is slated to take effect in December. Google, YouTube's parent company, strenuously advocated against the Australian ban and has threatened to sue to overturn it. On 25 July, the UK's long-awaited Online Safety Act took effect. The law requires social media and other internet platforms to implement safety measures protecting children - preventing them from accessing pornography or content that promotes dangerous behavior - or face large fines. By testing the new AI tool in the US - the platform's second largest market after India - YouTube is following the example of other tech companies, which have in some cases followed tightened privacy regulations in the past by implementing stricter mandates for all their users. In the US, California often functions as a de facto tech regulator, both by virtue of playing host to many of Silicon Valley's biggest players and by passing stricter regulations than other states. Like Australia and the UK, some states in the US have passed age verification laws targeting social media sites, though these have not been interpreted as applying to YouTube. When YouTube determines a user is teen or pre-teen, the site will disable personalized advertising, activate digital wellbeing features and put stricter content filters as well as behavioral restrictions into place. YouTube's AI will assess a user's age via multiple behavioral factors, including what kind of videos the user searches for, the categories of videos they watch, and how long the account has been active, per its blog post. "This technology will allow us to infer a user's age and then use that signal, regardless of the birthday in the account, to deliver our age-appropriate product experiences and protections," Beser wrote, adding that the company has used the technology in other markets prior to introducing it in the US. If the AI's estimation is incorrect, YouTube says it will allow a user to verify their age with a credit card, a government ID or a selfie. How the Australian government will ensure that under-16s stay away from the world's largest video site, one of the internet's primary destinations for both children and adults, remains an open question. In June, a test of the technology meant to estimate Australian users' ages was "not guaranteed to be effective".

Google Starts Using AI to Estimate User Ages

In a move aimed at strengthening online protections for young users, Google announced today that it has begun rolling out a machine learning-based system, utilizing specialized artificial intelligence, to estimate the age of signed-in users in the United States. Google's update, currently being introduced to a small group of users, is part of the company's broader efforts to provide age-appropriate experiences and bolster digital safety for minors across its platforms. "Children today are growing up with technology, not growing into it like previous generations. So we're working directly with experts and educators to help you set boundaries and use technology in a way that's right for your family," Google says. The changes, first previewed earlier this year, will affect how Google products and its advertising systems interact with users who are identified as likely under the age of 18. According to the company, these users will receive a suite of enhanced privacy and content protections, including the disabling of personalized advertising and restrictions on ad categories deemed sensitive. "For our publisher ad products, when our machine learning model flags a Google signed-in user as likely under 18, they will be provided additional ad safeguards," the Google AdSense team explained in an email to publishing partners this week. These changes will be applied across Google's ad ecosystem, including AdSense, AdMob, and Ad Manager, and will not require action from publishers at this time. In a corresponding blog post titled "Ensuring a safer online experience for U.S. kids and teens", Google provided more detail on how its age assurance system works. The company's machine learning model relies on behavioral signals such as search queries and video viewing patterns to estimate a user's age. If a user is flagged as underage, they will receive notifications and information on how to confirm or correct their age, including options to upload a government ID or take a selfie for verification. "This is just one part of our broader commitment to online safety for young users and families. We've continually invested in technology, policies and literacy resources to better protect kids and teens across our platforms. Our approach includes providing automatic safeguards for users under 18 with default settings and protections, expanding parental controls through Family Link and creating dedicated, age-appropriate experiences like YouTube Kids," Google writes. Google emphasized that this system does not rely on collecting new forms of user data and does not share granular information with third-party websites and apps. Rather, the goal is to build a "privacy-preserving" framework for age-appropriate content and advertising that aligns with both regulatory trends and growing public expectations for youth safety online. For young users identified by the system, the changes extend beyond advertising. Google will also: Disable Timeline tracking in Google Maps, introduce digital well-being features on YouTube such as break reminders and bedtime prompts, adjust YouTube content recommendations to avoid repetitive viewing of certain content types, and restrict access to adult-rated apps in the Google Play Store. These updates follow similar initiatives already launched in select international markets. Google's efforts are also part of a broader industry-wide push to implement age assurance technologies and strengthen digital protections for minors amid increasing scrutiny from regulators and advocacy groups. While Google has positioned the rollout as a step forward in child safety, the initiative will likely raise questions around transparency, the accuracy of algorithmic age estimation, and the balance between privacy and parental oversight. The company has stated it will monitor the initial U.S. rollout closely before expanding it more broadly. As digital platforms continue to evolve, the implementation of age assurance tools signals a shift toward more nuanced and proactive forms of user protection, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children and teens. Google's initiative reflects a growing consensus among technology companies that more comprehensive safeguards are needed to address the unique risks young people face online.

YouTube set to test AI-powered age checks in the US - will the UK be next?

This announcement follows the recent blocking of YouTube in Australia for minors and restrictions on social media in the UK YouTube has announced the introduction of AI-based checks to determine the age of viewers. This news comes days after a complete ban on YouTube access for under-16s in Australia, and the introduction of age verification checks in the UK under the Online Safety Act. Trialing the technology with a sample audience in the US, YouTube plans to expand it across the country, tailoring experiences based on the viewer's age. This doesn't just mean blocking unsuitable content. Personalized advertising will also be disabled for children, while older viewers will be required to provide government-issued ID to confirm their age if the AI gets it wrong. In a blog post, Director of Product Management for YouTube Youth, James Beser, wrote that "machine learning age estimation" is being employed to protect teens on YouTube. Distinguishing the new measures from previous incentives such as YouTube Kids and supervised accounts for teens, Beser explained that the platform would work towards presenting age-appropriate videos. "Over the next few weeks, we'll begin to roll out machine learning to a small set of users in the US to estimate their age, so that teens are treated as teens and adults as adults," said Beser. Machine learning will record the searches and video categories, and the AI will make decisions based on these and other factors, including the age of the account. "This technology will allow us to infer a user's age and then use that signal, regardless of the birthday in the account, to deliver our age-appropriate product experiences and protections," Beser adds. These protections include disabling personalized advertising when children are watching, and switching on digital wellbeing tools. (These currently include break reminders, daily timers, and even a bedtime reminder.) In addition, recommendations will be safeguarded, with blocks on some repeated content. These measures would seem to be VPN-proof, too. There would be no point any government banning VPNs if the AI-based measures are universal and cannot be circumvented. Over the years, criticism of YouTube's granular content controls has resulted in a subscription service (YouTube Kids), supervised accounts, and Google Family Link integration. The timing of this announcement, following the decision to include YouTube in Australia's under-16s social media ban, cannot be a coincidence. After all, it looks like this is not just a US-only endeavor. "We are now bringing it to the US, and as we make progress, we'll roll it out in other markets," Beser writes. Considering recent events, the UK would seem to be high on that list of markets, followed by key EU nations imposing age verification measures.

YouTube to roll out new AI-powered technology aimed at identifying teen users

Anne Marie D. Lee is an editor for CBS MoneyWatch. She writes about topics including personal finance, the workplace, travel and social media. YouTube announced on Tuesday it is planning to roll out a new age-estimation technology that will identify users under the age of 18. The new feature is intended to protect young teens from harmful content, the company says. Powered by artificial intelligence, the tool will be able to assess a person's age based on the types of videos they've watched, the categories of the videos, and how long the person has had their account -- regardless of the birthday associated with it, James Beser, director of product management at YouTube, said in a statement on the platform's blog. If the technology identifies a person as under 18, it will take extra steps to regulate their content by disabling personalized advertising and limiting repetitive views of certain kinds of content, among other things. If YouTube incorrectly determines someone's age, the user can upload a form of identification to fix the error. "We will only allow users who have been inferred or verified as over 18 to view age-restricted content that may be inappropriate for younger users," YouTube said in the blog post. Google, which is the parent company of YouTube, did not immediately respond to CBS MoneyWatch's request for comment. According to a recent Pew survey, YouTube is the most popular social media app among teens. Ninety percent of teens ages 13 to 17 said they used YouTube last year, compared with 63% who said they used TikTok. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan initially announced the age-detection technology in February. The new tool builds on other safety features like supervised accounts which allow parents to monitor their children's YouTube activity more closely. YouTube has also leveraged AI to identify and remove content it considers harmful, although since President Trump took office in January for his second term, the social media platform has shifted its policy to emphasize "freedom of expression" over safety, The New York Times reported. YouTube says it will be testing the age-detection tool in the coming weeks among a small set of U.S. users, before rolling out the technology to a wider audience. The tool is already being used in other markets with success, the company states on its blog, but does not specify where.

YouTube has started using AI to determine how old you are and feed you age-appropriate content, so prepare to be judged based on what you watch and when

Get your credit card or government ID out if YouTube got it wrong... YouTube warned us this was coming back in February. Now it's actually rolling out a new AI feature to determine the age of viewers and then feed them age-appropriate content. According to an official YouTube blog post, this machine-learning approach to content filtering and user account classification has already been running in some unidentified markets for an unspecified period. But over the next few weeks, YouTube will "begin to roll out machine learning to a small set of users in the US to estimate their age, so that teens are treated as teens and adults as adults." YouTube says it will closely monitor the technology, "before we roll it out more widely." The video streamer explains that the system allows it to "infer a user's age and then use that signal, regardless of the birthday in the account, to deliver our age-appropriate product experiences and protections." If YouTube, or rather YouTube's bot, decides a teenager is watching, a number of measures can come into play, including disabling personalised advertising, turning on digital wellbeing tools and adding safeguards to recommendations. This could also include limiting repetitive views of some kinds of content. Exactly what these tools and measures amount to, such as "digital wellbeing", isn't entirely clear. As for how the AI system makes that judgement, YouTube says it interprets, "a variety of signals that help us to determine whether a user is over or under 18. These signals include the types of videos a user is searching for, the categories of videos they have watched, or the longevity of the account." But what if YouTube gets it wrong? "If the system incorrectly estimates a user to be under 18, they will have the option to verify that they are 18 or over, such as using a credit card or a government ID. We will only allow users who have been inferred or verified as over 18 to view age-restricted content that may be inappropriate for younger users," YouTube says. It will be interesting to see how accurate the AI age verification system proves to be. Certainly, AI is posing YouTube, or at least its viewers, at least as many problems as it is solving. YouTube's earlier February blog post, which first mentioned the use of machine learning to filter user accounts, leaned more broadly into the benefits of AI, highlighting tools for creators, including AI-powered auto-dubbing and AI-generated video backgrounds and soundtracks. On the other hand, a huge quantity of AI-generated slop is now uploaded to YouTube daily, and the company is currently either unwilling or unable to filter it all out. Overall, it remains to be seen if AI will more broadly prove a saviour or a curse for the platform. Oh, and us, the people who actually use it.

YouTube Is Using AI to Guess Your Age

Age verification on the internet used to be a bit of a joke. The whole thing worked on the honor system, and few of us kept our honor. YouTube might be for users 13 and up, but that's not going to stop an 11 year old from watching. But that internet is rapidly being left in the past. Depending on where you live, some sites and services are verifying the ages of their users, most through mandatory ID checks. Now, YouTube is joining the party, by employing AI to guess how old you are. In a blog post on Tuesday, YouTube announced it would start rolling out "machine learning" (read: AI) to a small pool of users over the coming weeks, specifically to estimate how old they are. YouTube wants to identify whether a user is a teen or an adult. (Remember: YouTube intends for its service to be used only by users 13 and up, and assumes any users younger than that are on YouTube Kids.) The AI does not necessarily pay attention to the age listed in the account, as YouTube assumes some users might be misrepresenting how old they are. Rather, these new programs look at identifying habits that are associated with age groups. That includes things like the types of videos a user might be searching for, the style of video they've been watching, or how old the account is. If YouTube's AI determines that the user is an adult, that user can continue to use YouTube as they normally would. However, should the AI infer that the user is a teen, the site will implement "age-appropriate" protections. If your account is flagged as a teen account by the AI, you can expect the following: So, you're 18 or older, but for some reason, YouTube thinks you're a minor. In this case, the burden of proof concerning your age is not on YouTube, but on you. According to YouTube's press release, adult users who are incorrectly labeled as teens by YouTube's AI can appeal, but only by presenting a form of identification, like a government ID or a credit card. A YouTube rep did tell ZDNet that a selfie would also be an acceptable form of proof. I'd be interested to know how many users find themselves in this position. AI is not magic, and, in fact, frequently gets things wrong. I'm sure there are plenty of adults out there that might watch YouTube videos the site associates with younger viewers -- especially if those adults are only 18 or 19. YouTube is far from the only company rolling out these types of age verification systems, too -- particularly due to new laws from governments seeking to protect kids online. It seems the next era of the internet will normalize proving our age and identities on what used to be a free, open, and anonymous web.

Google Is Rolling Out Its AI Age Verification to More Services, and I'm Skeptical

Yesterday, I wrote about how YouTube is now using AI to guess your age. The idea is this: Rather than rely on the age attached to your account, YouTube analyzes your activity on its platform, and makes a determination based on how your activity corresponds to others users. If the AI thinks you're an adult, you can continue on; if it thinks your behavior aligns with that of a teenage user, it'll put restrictions and protections on your account. Now, Google is expanding its AI age verification tools beyond just its video streaming platform, to other Google products as well. As with YouTube, Google is trialing this initial rollout with a small pool of users, and based on its results, will expand the test to more users down the line. But over the next few weeks, your Google Account may be subject to this new AI, whose only goal is to estimate how old you are. That AI is trained to look for patterns of behavior across Google products associated with users under the age of 18. That includes the categories of information you might be searching for, or the types of videos you watch on YouTube. Google's a little cagey on the details, but suffice it to say that the AI is likely snooping through most, if not all, of what you use Google and its products for. We do know some of the restrictions and protections Google plans to implement when it detects a user is under 18 years old. As I reported yesterday, that involves turning on YouTube's Digital Wellbeing tools, such as reminders to stop watching videos, and, if it's late, encouragements to go to bed. YouTube will also limit repetitive views of certain types of content. In addition to these changes to YouTube, you'll also find you can no longer access Timeline in Maps. Timeline saves your Google Maps history, so you can effectively travel back through time and see where you've been. It's a cool feature, but Google restricts access to users 18 years of age or older. So, if the AI detects you're underage, no Timeline for you. You'll also notice your ads will be much less relevant to your interests and search history. Accounts under 18 don't have personalized advertising, which is a great choice for all of us -- not just teens. Sure, it's good to limit targeted advertising toward younger people, but, as an adult, I certainly don't need to see the fruits of web trackers' labor manifest as pop-up ads. I try to disable personalized ads whenever I can anyway -- but an ad blocker solves the problem entirely. Finally, accounts under 18 won't be able to access apps restricted to adults on the Play Store, which makes sense. If your account is flagged as being under 18, you won't be able to download or access 18+ apps. Part of the problem with outsourcing this type of work to AI is that the tech is not perfect. As a matter of fact, it often makes mistakes, and will undoubtedly label some adults' accounts as underage. While the above restrictions aren't particularly extreme, you probably don't want to deal with YouTube's encouragements to go to sleep, or arbitrarily losing out on features like Timeline. Google is aware of this possibility, and has a solution: If the AI gets it wrong, you can verify your age by uploading either your government ID or a selfie. The latter likely uses a different AI model to determine whether you really are over 18, which has its own set of problems, but the point is this: Google is following an age verification trend started by other sites and services in the face of new laws from various governments. Age verification is slowly becoming the norm, demanding users upload official IDs to prove they are as old as they say they are. I'm all for protecting kids online, but I'd argue that there should be ways to do it that don't involve sacrificing the privacy of every user on the web.

YouTube's new AI will identify underage users to protect minors

YouTube will implement artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and apply restrictions to accounts believed to belong to underage users. The initiative, set to begin on August 13th, will initially focus on users within the United States. The AI-powered age estimation technology will analyze account activity and the age declared upon account creation to determine if a user is under 18. This system aims to automatically extend existing protections to minors on the platform. Accounts identified as belonging to users under 18 will be subject to specific safeguards. These include blocking access to age-restricted videos, disabling personalized advertisements, and activating "take a break" notifications as reminders. Furthermore, the system limits repeated video recommendations related to sensitive subjects, such as body image concerns. YouTube will also automatically enable privacy reminders for detected underage users. These reminders will appear when users upload videos or post comments, encouraging caution regarding personal information. These measures align with Google's previously announced intentions to utilize machine learning for age estimation. This also corresponds with a global increase in online child safety regulations. The United Kingdom's online age verification rules, which require users to verify their age on sites containing pornography or other content viewed as harmful, recently went into effect. YouTube's AI-powered "Jump Ahead" feature is now on your TV Despite the implementation of AI, the system is not infallible. James Beser, YouTube's director of product management, stated, "Over the next few weeks, we'll begin to roll out machine learning to a small set of users in the US to estimate their age, so that teens are treated as teens and adults as adults." Users who are incorrectly flagged as underage will have the opportunity to verify their age. The verification process involves uploading a government-issued identification card, submitting a selfie, or entering credit card information. The platform acknowledges potential consequences for content creators. YouTube notes that creators may "experience a shift in their audience categorized as teens," potentially leading to a decrease in ad revenue. This potential revenue impact stems from the restriction of personalized ads for underage users. The initial rollout of this AI system will be limited to a small user group within the United States. YouTube plans to "closely monitor" the update before expanding its implementation to other countries, according to Beser.

Google rolls out platform-wide AI age verification

Google is expanding its AI-powered age verification system, initially implemented on YouTube, to encompass a broader range of its services within the United States. This expansion involves utilizing machine learning to assess user age based on online activity patterns. Users flagged as potentially under 18 will be required to verify their age through identification or a selfie. The expansion of Google's age assurance system signifies a platform-wide effort, extending beyond YouTube's video recommendations. The company has announced plans to integrate this technology across its services in the US, potentially scrutinizing a wider spectrum of user online behaviors to determine age. This development builds upon the recent introduction of AI-driven age estimation on YouTube, indicating a more comprehensive strategy. According to a Google blog post, the age verification system will undergo initial testing with a select group of users in the US. Following this preliminary phase, the system will be gradually rolled out to a larger user base. This measured deployment allows for refinement and optimization of the technology before widespread implementation. The core mechanism of the system relies on machine learning algorithms that analyze various aspects of user account activity. This includes search queries, YouTube viewing habits, and other behavioral indicators. If the AI determines that a user is likely under the age of 18, a prompt will appear, requesting age verification. Users can verify their age by submitting a copy of their identification or by uploading a selfie. Google emphasizes its intention to minimize unnecessary data collection, only requesting proof of age when deemed necessary by the algorithm. Users who fail to verify their age, or whose age is correctly identified as under 18 by the system, will encounter restrictions within Google's ecosystem. These restrictions include access to Digital Wellbeing tools such as bedtime reminders on YouTube, the disabling of personalized advertisements, the suspension of Timeline history in Google Maps, and the inability to access age-restricted applications through the Play Store. Some of these measures aim to enhance the protection of younger users online. However, the potential for misidentification raises concerns about adults being incorrectly flagged and experiencing unwarranted limitations. The technology industry faces increasing pressure to safeguard children online. Yet, the use of AI to analyze user behavior and impose content restrictions raises questions, particularly when inaccuracies occur. Users with new accounts or those who frequently engage with content popular among younger audiences, such as MrBeast challenges or Taylor Swift reaction videos, might experience prompts to verify their age or be subject to bedtime reminders.

YouTube's AI teen protections start rolling out in the US - Phandroid

YouTube is rolling out new AI teen protections in the US, and they could change how younger users experience the platform. In a blog post, YouTube confirmed that it's using machine learning to estimate a user's age based on what they search for, the type of content they watch, and how long the account's been around. If the AI flags someone as under 18, the platform will automatically apply restrictions like turning off personalized ads, limiting repetitive content, and enabling digital well-being tools. This isn't the first time YouTube has focused on younger viewers. It already launched YouTube Kids and supervised accounts, and more recently, it raised the livestream age minimum from 13 to 16. Now, this YouTube AI teen protections system adds another layer to that strategy. If users get flagged incorrectly, they'll need to verify their age with a credit card or government-issued ID. For now, only a small group of US users will see the change. YouTube says it'll monitor how things go before expanding it further. Notably, this mirrors a broader push from Google, which also just started rolling out a similar AI-based age detection feature across its services. Meanwhile, YouTube's making another change, this time for creators. Swearing in the first seven seconds of a video no longer kills ad revenue. The company says moderate to strong profanity is now okay upfront, as long as it's not excessive. But profanity in video titles or high-frequency swearing? Still a no-go.

YouTube Begins Using Age Estimation to Enable Features to Protect Teens

YouTube's age estimation feature doesn't require personal details YouTube is rolling out a new feature to users in the US that relies on machine learning to estimate their age, without providing any personal information. The Alphabet-owned company says it is bringing the same technology used in other regions to display content that is appropriate for younger users on the platform, while disabling features like personalised advertising. The feature is designed to work even if younger users have provided an incorrect birthday to bypass the platform's age-based protections. In a blog post detailing the feature that is rolling out to "a small set of users in the US", the company says that the age estimation feature is designed to infer the age of a YouTube user. It relies on artificial intelligence (AI), and users won't have to share any private details as the platform uses signals to estimate their ages. Once YouTube has identified an account being used by a teenager, it will automatically turn on the platform's digital wellbeing features, which are designed to prevent excessive use. "Repetitive views" of content related to weight and physical appearance will also be curtailed, and YouTube will prevent some types of videos from appearing in their recommendations. Personalised ads will also be disabled on teenagers' accounts. AI-powered systems can also make mistakes while classifying accounts based on signals, and YouTube says that it will offer users a way to verify their age. Adults who have been incorrectly identified as teens can provide the platform with a government ID card, or a credit card to re-classify their account as an adult. Once it is resolved, YouTube will re-enable access to restricted videos and short videos. The new age estimation capability comes months after YouTube CEO Neal Mohan first announced the feature was coming to users in February. The company's previous efforts at limiting content available to younger users include supervised accounts and content restrictions that were rolled out in September 2024. YouTube says it will also roll out the same feature to other markets in the future.

YouTube adds AI-powered age verification for U.S. teens

YouTube is introducing an AI-powered system that estimates a user's age, independent of the birthdate provided during account setup. This change is aimed at applying safety and privacy protections to a wider group of under-18 users in the United States. Previously, YouTube relied on the age users entered when signing up to determine eligibility for teen-specific protections. Now, with advancements in AI, the platform is shifting toward a behavior-based model to better flag underage users and activate safeguards automatically. This model has been live in other parts of the world and, according to YouTube, has proven effective. The US rollout marks the next step in expanding coverage. The new system analyzes a combination of account history and user behavior. Signals may include: If the system identifies someone as likely under 18, the user will be notified. If they disagree, they can submit proof using: For those flagged as teens, YouTube will enable specific protections automatically. These include: Some creators may see policy-related changes if their audience includes more viewers under 18. Specific actions include: YouTube emphasized that these impacts are expected to be limited in scope. Updates to Analytics are also planned to reflect this newer age-detection system instead of just relying on the user-entered birth year. The rollout begins August 13, 2025, and will initially apply to users located in the United States.

YouTube's New AI System Flags Underage Users, Even if They Lie About Age

YouTube's new enhancement feature will use to verify in detail whether a user is underage, in case the age was entered falsely while creating an account. Established safety measures will, in turn, be imposed on child users identified by the system. As part of the safety measures, access to age-restricted content is blocked; personalization of ads is turned off; uploads and commenting for minors are restricted; and break reminders during viewing are displayed on all grounds to prevent targeting of child users. Should any user feel wrongly labeled, they may initiate a reclassification request by providing identifying information such as an official ID, a credit card, or an age verification selfie. According to , this process is fairly secure, and all submitted materials shall be destroyed right after the review is complete. The development comes amidst mounting pressure from regulations. After YouTube was fined $170 million for breach of child privacy laws in the US, it is thus attempting to improve the system to address the gaps left by running on an outdated age verification system and align with international standards for . Content creators may perceive effects from the alteration since targeted users whom the system has flagged will no longer be viewed through ads, which could impact ad revenues. Such a change could thereby usher in more restrictions on children's content and reduce its viewership. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about inaccuracies in the AI model. Incorrect classifications can happen sometimes for family-friendly or nostalgic teen content. YouTube emphasizes that significant effort is being put into making the system highly accurate and acknowledges some mistakes, but remedying measures will apply to those cases. YouTube age detection technology is being enhanced to ensure that users access only age-appropriate content. In response to rising concerns, YouTube's child privacy laws are being tightened to better protect minors from data misuse and targeted advertising.

YouTube will guess age of viewers to show appropriate content: Here's how

Creators could face revenue dip as YouTube starts tagging viewers as under 18 You might think you've outsmarted YouTube by entering a fake birthdate to get around those annoying age restrictions. Maybe you created your account when you were 13, claimed you were 21, and never looked back. But now, YouTube doesn't really care what you told it, because it's going to figure out how old you act. In a major shift rolling out August 13 in the U.S., YouTube will begin using artificial intelligence to estimate your age based on your behavior. It watches what you watch, when you watch it, how long you linger, and what you skip. From that, it builds a digital profile, not of who you say you are, but who you probably are. And if it decides you're under 18? Everything changes. Also read: Social media ban for teens in Australia: Age-verification tech trial succeeds Let's say you're bingeing animated reaction memes, dream house builds in Minecraft, Taylor Swift lyric videos, and "study with me" livestreams. That's enough for YouTube's new machine learning model to raise its virtual eyebrow and go, "Hmm, maybe we're dealing with a teenager here." This isn't just pattern recognition, it's AI applied to your viewing history, engagement style, even your scroll behavior. It looks at what kinds of videos draw you in, how quickly you click away from certain types of content, and which rabbit holes you fall into on your recommended page. Unlike a birthday you enter once and forget, this model keeps learning, constantly refining its estimate of your age over time. If YouTube's system tags you as a minor, it flips a switch. Suddenly you can't watch age-restricted videos (even if your account says you're 25). Personalized ads disappear meaning that you'll only get the basic, untargeted commercials, bedtime reminders and "take a break" nudges might start showing up, certain categories of videos like dating, or extreme fitness might quietly vanish from your homepage, and you may even find yourself locked out of certain live chats, comment sections, or creators' content. And if the system gets it wrong? You'll have to verify your age through a selfie, a credit card, or official ID. Which, let's be honest, not everyone wants to do. From one angle, this sounds dystopian. YouTube is scanning your behavior to decide how old you are without asking? But the flip side is this: millions of kids under 13 already use the platform despite policies that say otherwise. They lie about their age, sign in with a parent's account, or create burner profiles. The company is trying to design guardrails that kick in even when kids don't ask for them. So, is it surveillance or safety? That depends on which side of the screen you're on. Also read: YouTube may soon use new tech to verify user age for safer content recommendations If you're a YouTuber, this update could quietly hit your revenue. Why? Because users flagged as minors won't get personalized ads, and those ads are what pay the bills. So if your content appeals to younger audiences, even if it's not explicitly made for kids, you might see a dip in your earnings. What's worse is that you may not even realize it's happening. YouTube Analytics still shows audience age based on user profiles, not the AI's behind-the-scenes judgment. So, you might see a healthy 18-24 demo in your dashboard, while the algorithm is quietly categorizing half of them as "minors" and stripping out the ad dollars. Also, if your content starts getting restricted in recommendations because it's not "age-appropriate," your views could tank and you won't necessarily know why. What's wild is that this might be the new norm. Age estimation by behavior isn't just for video platforms anymore. Google has already used similar tools for the Play Store and Search. TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat are experimenting with it too. The days of self-declared age are numbered. And sure, that means fewer 12-year-olds pretending to be 22-year-olds online. But it also means platforms are getting bolder in judging who we are not by what we say, but by what we do. There's a part of me that loves the chaos of an unfiltered algorithm, the thrill of discovery. But there's also a part of me that knows not everyone should see everything, all the time, especially not kids navigating anxiety, identity, and the hyper-comparison culture that social media can amplify. Maybe the real question is: how do we build an internet that grows with us without leaving us behind? YouTube's new AI age estimation system is more than a feature update. It's a philosophical shift moving from "tell us who you are" to "we'll figure it out ourselves." For younger viewers, that means safer spaces. For creators, it means a new era of guesswork and possibly lower earnings. And for all of us, it's a reminder that the algorithm isn't just recommending content anymore -- it's judging who we are. Like it or not, YouTube knows who's watching.