YouTube Uses AI to Estimate Age and Protect Teens from Inappropriate Content
YouTube is now beginning to implement artificial intelligence (AI) technology to automatically estimate users' ages and tailor their experience based on age groups.
This step is part of YouTube’s ongoing commitment to creating a safe environment, especially for young viewers such as children and teenagers.
For more than a decade, YouTube has developed various forms of protection for young users, ranging from the launch of YouTube Kids to the introduction of accounts with parental supervision for teenagers. Now, YouTube is taking a further step by using machine learning to estimate users’ ages based on their behavior on the platform, without having to rely on the birth date listed on the account.
How Does AI Determine User Age?
AI technology will analyze various signals that reflect the user’s age, such as:
- Types of videos frequently searched
- Categories of videos watched
- Account usage duration and interaction patterns
If the system estimates that the user is a teenager (under 18), YouTube will automatically activate additional protections, including:
- Disabling personalized ads
- Enabling digital wellbeing features
- Filtering video recommendations to avoid showing content considered inappropriate or overly repetitive
However, if a user who is actually an adult is mistakenly classified as a teenager, they can verify their age through certain methods, such as using a government-issued ID or a credit card. Only those verified to be 18 years or older can access age-restricted content.
Launched in the US, Global Rollout to Follow
This technology is currently being tested on a small group of users in the United States. YouTube plans to gradually expand its implementation to other markets after evaluating its impact and effectiveness. YouTube also stated it will continue to monitor user experience and collaborate with creators so that the entire platform ecosystem can properly adapt to the changes.
By leveraging artificial intelligence to estimate user age, YouTube is taking an important step in creating a safer and more responsible digital ecosystem. This technology not only protects young users from inappropriate content but also safeguards their privacy without relying on personal data like birth dates.