YouTube will implement AI-powered age detection for US users to identify viewers under 18. The system analyses viewing habits and account details to estimate a user's age, regardless of the age provided during account creation. If the AI identifies a user as potentially underage, they will be prompted to verify their age using a government ID, credit card, or selfie.
This initiative aims to provide a safer online experience for younger users by enforcing stricter protections. These include limiting ad targeting, disabling autoplay, and restricting access to inappropriate content. Content creators may see shifts in audience demographics and potential impacts on ad revenue due to non-personalised ads being served to teen viewers. YouTube will test the tool in the coming weeks among a small set of U.S. users, before rolling out the technology to a wider audience.
This move aligns with global regulations focused on protecting young people online and builds upon existing safety features, such as supervised accounts. YouTube has already implemented this technology in other markets. The company anticipates updates to audience reports in YouTube Analytics to reflect age estimations.
