YouTube will identify and restrict minors’ accounts with AI

YouTube is implementing AI-powered age estimation technology to identify and restrict the accounts of users under the age of 18 in the United States, starting on August 13th. These underage accounts will receive the same protections already offered to users who identify themselves as under 18, including blocks on age-restricted videos, non-personalized ads, "take a break" notifications, and limits on recommendations about sensitive topics. The move aligns with a global push for improved child safety online. The UK has recently implemented online age verification rules, and several US states have passed laws restricting minors' access to porn sites. The European Union is also testing an age verification prototype linked to digital IDs. YouTube will notify users if it determines they are under 18, and they can verify their age by uploading a government ID, taking a selfie, or entering a credit card. This change may impact some creators, as minors are not shown personalized ads, potentially resulting in less ad revenue. YouTube plans to closely monitor the rollout before expanding it to other countries.