YouTube stands as a highly frequented online platform in the United States. However, some content available on the video-sharing platform isn’t suitable for all age groups.
Like most platforms, YouTube has safeguards, such as restrictions on violence and nudity, intended to protect users under 18. Nevertheless, young users have previously found it easy to bypass these measures by falsifying their birthdate when creating an account.
The company is now introducing an AI-driven system to estimate a user’s age based on their platform activity. James Beser, director of product management at YouTube Youth, explained last month that this “signal” would be used, irrespective of the account’s stated birthday, to provide age-appropriate experiences and protections.
Beser mentioned that the technology has been utilized in other markets “for some time” and will initially be tested in the U.S. starting Wednesday, followed by a broader implementation.
“We’re proud to again be at the forefront of introducing technology that allows us to deliver safety protections while preserving teen privacy,” Beser said. “Families trust YouTube to provide a safe and enriching experience, and we’ll continue to invest to protect their ability to explore safely online.”
Here’s what you should know about YouTube’s plans to estimate the ages of its American users.
How the AI-powered tool works
Beser stated that the model will analyze various user signals to estimate their age. These include the types of videos they search for, the categories they watch, and how long they’ve had the account.
If the model indicates that a user is under 18, YouTube will automatically enforce age-specific protections. This includes turning off personalized ads, enabling digital wellbeing features such as break and bedtime reminders, and implementing safeguards to recommendations by limiting repeated exposure to certain content.
Beser clarified that only users estimated or verified to be over 18 will be permitted to view age-restricted content that may not be appropriate for younger audiences.
According to a Google forum post, YouTube will not require all users to upload identification. However, if the model incorrectly assumes a user is underage, they can verify they are 18 or older by using a credit card, selfie, or government-issued ID. Underage users may decline to upload these documents, but teen protections will remain active.
The same forum also indicated that the new model might have a “limited impact” on content creators. If a user is classified as a teen, YouTube could default their uploads to private and might restrict their ability to monetize gifts on vertical live streams. A YouTube employee noted that this could lead to reduced ad revenue since only non-personalized ads are shown to these viewers.
Why is YouTube doing this?
With teenagers continuously discovering methods to bypass age restrictions, platforms like YouTube are experiencing heightened political pressure in the U.S. to enhance protections for minors through stricter measures.
In June, the Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for websites with sexually explicit content. Legislators have also proposed laws imposing restrictions on social media use for minors. Furthermore, the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), aimed at requiring platforms to take greater steps to minimize harm to minors, was reintroduced in Congress this year.
This is also part of a wider global trend. The Australian government is progressing towards a nationwide ban for children under 16 from social media (including YouTube) and has initiated age checks for search engines. In the U.K., a law targeting adult sites mandates age verification, and non-adult platforms like Spotify, Reddit, and X have also reportedly requested age verification from users.
However, some of these policies have drawn criticism, primarily due to concerns about privacy and free speech.
What are the implications and concerns?
The internet civil rights group Fight for the Future suggests that age-estimation technology could prevent some users from accessing content they should be allowed to view. They argue that an adult could be misclassified as a child simply for watching roleplay game reviews on YouTube and then be forced to either appeal the decision by uploading identification or give up access to the service.
YouTube’s age-estimation plan is also facing scrutiny due to potential privacy violations. A Change.org petition opposing the rollout has gathered over 68,000 signatures.
The petition argues that “mass surveillance and data control” are at stake because the age estimation model analyzes users’ viewing behavior and history. It further contends that YouTube’s move could set a dangerous precedent: “Once these systems are normalized, they rarely go away—they expand. If we don’t speak up now, we risk losing our ability to browse, create, and enjoy content freely. This is about more than YouTube. This is about digital freedom.”
“`
