YouTube is bringing its AI-powered age estimation system to the United States starting August 13. The new technology will try to figure out if users are under 18 years old, even if their Google account says they are older. This change could affect millions of American YouTube users who might need to prove their age with official documents.
The system uses artificial intelligence and different signals to guess how old someone really is. YouTube looks at things like what videos people search for, what categories they watch, how they use the platform, and how old their account is. The company says it has already been using this model in other countries for some time, but now it’s coming to America.
If YouTube’s AI decides someone is a teenager, it will automatically put restrictions on their account, raising concerns similar to other AI privacy issues with popular apps. The platform will limit personalized ads, reduce exposure to what it calls “problematic” content, and turn on digital wellbeing tools. YouTube knows its system might make mistakes. “You’ll have the option to verify your age (through government ID, selfie, or a credit card) if you believe our age estimation model is incorrect,” the company explained in a support update.
Age verification systems are causing problems in other countries
The move comes as age verification has become a hot topic around the world. In the UK, similar systems have caused major backlash from users who don’t want to share personal documents online. Over 350,000 people signed a petition asking the UK government to get rid of the Online Safety Act, but officials say they won’t change it.
Some UK users have found creative ways to get around the system. They use fake images, including high-quality computer graphics of video game characters, to trick facial recognition software. These protests show how unhappy people are about having to prove their age online.
YouTube’s rollout in the US will happen gradually, but it could create privacy concerns for American users. Adults who get wrongly flagged as teenagers will need to send personal documents to Google just to watch certain videos, echoing broader privacy concerns about AI systems collecting personal data. This requirement could make using YouTube much more complicated for regular users.
The new system is part of YouTube’s bigger push to protect young users online. The teen protections themselves aren’t new, but the AI system will apply them to many more people than before. Creators and viewers are preparing for stricter content controls and the possibility of having to upload ID documents to prove they are adults. The change represents a major shift in how YouTube operates and could set a precedent for other social media platforms in America.
Published: Jul 31, 2025 12:50 pm