Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL;DR YouTube will start estimating the age of its US viewers beginning today, August 13.
The platform will use AI to determine if you are under 18 and automatically apply age-appropriate experiences to your account.
You can dispute the age estimation by providing a government ID, selfie, or a credit card.
YouTube will start rolling out its new AI-powered age estimation system in the US beginning today, August 13. First announced last month, the feature uses artificial intelligence to determine whether a user is likely under 18, based on factors such as their viewing habits, YouTube search history, and how long their account has been active. This process applies to all YouTube accounts, regardless of the birthdate entered during sign-up.
If YouTube’s AI concludes you’re under 18, you’ll receive a notification informing you of the same. You can dispute this by verifying your age through a government-issued ID, a selfie, or a credit card.
For accounts flagged as belonging to teens, YouTube will automatically enable its age-appropriate features, which include: Showing only non-personalized ads
Turning on digital wellbeing tools like “take a break” and bedtime reminders by default
Displaying privacy reminders when uploading videos or posting public comments
Reducing recommendations for videos that could be problematic if watched repeatedly And has been YouTube’s rule for years, you must be 18 or older to view age-restricted videos.
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