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YouTube Launches AI Age-Verification in U.S., Which Will Automatically Restrict Users Estimated to Be Under 18

YouTube began rolling out an 'age-estimation model' in the U.S. that uses AI to restrict access to users determined to be under 18 years old.

variety.com

Are you a kid watching YouTube? The Google-owned platform is testing technology in the U.S. that can predict if you're under 18 — and automatically add certain restrictions to your account.

YouTube says the move is aimed at providing better protections for younger users. On Wednesday, it began rolling out an "age-estimation model" in the U.S. that uses AI to determine if someone is under 18, regardless of the birthday they've entered into their account.

If YouTube's AI-based system calculates that someone is likely less than 18 years old, it will place restrictions on and add other security measures to the account. According to YouTube, users will "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 rollout of AI will initially cover a "small set of users" in the U.S. to estimate their age, "so that teens are treated as teens and adults as adults," James Beser, senior director of product management for YouTube's youth products, wrote in blog post. "This technology will allow us to infer a user's age and then use that signal, regardless of the birthday in the account, to deliver our age-appropriate product experiences and protections."

YouTube has used machine learning to estimate users' ages in other countries "for some time, where it is working well," according to Beser. In the U.S., YouTube will "closely monitor the user experience, and partner with Creators to ensure that the entire ecosystem benefits from this update," he added.

According to YouTube, the age estimation model uses a variety of signals such as YouTube activity and longevity of the account. If the system determines that you are under 18, you will be notified and "standard protections for teen accounts on YouTube will automatically be enabled."

Those "protections" (which are already applied for users who have told YouTube they're under 18) include: showing only non-personalized ads; enabling "digital wellbeing" tools by default, including "take a break" and bedtime reminders; showing reminders about privacy when uploading a video or commenting publicly; minimizing recommendations of videos with content that could be "problematic if viewed in repetition"; and blocking access to videos that are age-restricted for only viewers 18 and older (determined by YouTube or verified by users).

 

[Skyfox]

It's the end of the internet folks

Back to real life

 

[Doom85]

 

[The_hunter]

Norman Reedus to the rescue.

 

[newtypepilot]

google desperately needs something to justify its racist AI.

sunk cost fallacy baby!

 

[Kacho]

Yep. This will unite everyone.

 

[Hugare]

Here in Brazil, recently there was a huge scandal of a Tik Tok/Instagram "celebrity" that was sexualizing minors to attract pedos for views (yeah, disgusting stuff)

So I expect something similar to the UK really soon. The government has been salivating for an oportunity to control the internet for a while, and now they have the perfect excuse for it.

Dark times ahead. Mainstream social media will be 100% controlled by the government real soon, and most people are too dumb to do something about it.

 

[Bojji]

Norman Reedus to the rescue.

 

[ForAcademicPurposes]

Norman Reedus to the rescue.

 

[Unknown?]

Use Odysee or Rumble.

 

[LordCBH]

Jesus Christ.

 

[ssringo]

Love Boondock Saints. The cat scene gets me rolling every time.

 

[Valonquar]

I wonder if their age verification system is intelligent enough to know if your account is over 18 years old that it doesn't need to verify your age...

 

[Rush2112]

Don't panic. If you are over 18, you should be okay. Stop watching fortnite.

 

[LordCBH]

I wonder if their age verification system is intelligent enough to know if your account is over 18 years old that it doesn't need to verify your age...

lol. Lmao, even.

 

[Windle Poons]

Norman Reedus to the rescue.

Keep on keeping on... with your age verifications.

 

[winjer]

Who could have guessed that 1984 would happen in 2025.

 

[Mithos]

I kinda wish that people had a backbone, and 90%+ wouldn't ID themself, and just let the Internet sites/stores/youtubers etc etc just burn and die.

 

[xrnzaaas]

Ah yes, the usual method of making small steps so there's no bigger outrage. First it's only a small group of people and the restrictions aren't that major. Give them a few months/years and every single user will experience verification at some point and you won't be allowed to watch anything unless you verify.

 

[ForAcademicPurposes]

They trying to take her away from me

 

[FeralEcho]

I just can't anymore with the idiocracy on display in this world.

 

[AJUMP23]

My google account is 21 years old, the day they released GMAIL.

 

[ssringo]

My google account is 21 years old, the day they released GMAIL.

Mine isn't quite that old but it's still old enough to be an adult itself. I look forward to getting a notification about my age. Will be funny.

 

[Gp1]

Save the children

One credit card age verification at a time

 

[AJUMP23]

Mine isn't quite that old its still old enough to be an adult itself. I look forward to getting a notification about my age. Will be funny.

My kid watched Fortnite video on my account so I know I am doomed.

 

[Boo Who?]

My algorithm is police body cam footage, guitar demo videos, Pat McAfee, and Marvel Rivals content in that order. I should be fine.

 

[ReBurn]

How are 8 year olds watching self breast exams now?

 

[Escape Goat]

Parenting is hard. Best leave it to the politicians and oligarchy.

 

[Tokio Blues]

Welcome to 1984.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Whatever between the ads, the voting system changes, the channel updates, the weird gate keeping, the tick tock style editing YouTube hasn't had my activity.

 

[ReBurn]

Welcome to 1984.

They didn't have YouTube in 1984 though

 

[P:axMagellanic]

Where's your guns now, Yankee?

Seriously though, I hope trump comes down on these cunts like a sack of shit.

 

[reinking]

If it is anything like the algorithm for youtube shorts I am screwed. I get the weirdest stuff that shows up on those and it is usually nothing related to things I have searched for in google or youtube. It will treat my like I am 12 some days and like I am 80 on others.

 

[MrTroubleMaker]

If it is anything like the algorithm for youtube shorts I am screwed. I get the weirdest stuff that shows up on those and it is usually nothing related to things I have searched for in google or youtube. It will treat my like I am 12 some days and like I am 80 on others.

yeah same for me, a bunch of weird stuff.
I wonder what age it thinks I am.

NR

stable diffusion would be better then using him, they will just block his familiar face.

 

[JayK47]

AI is our new masters.

 

[Escape Goat]

Where's your guns now, Yankee?

Seriously though, I hope trump comes down on these cunts like a sack of shit.

Its Republicans who are behind all the age verification nonsense. The Speaker of the House even shares an app with his teenage son so they can track each other's porn viewing and hold each other accountable.

 

[mitch1971]

When's GAF getting age verification?

 

[Dr.D00p]

Americans have a lot more important things to be worried about right now than age verification....

 

[That Damn Kid]

 

[Kilau]

It's funny to see Google pretending they don't know exactly who you are with their decades of tracking.

 

[fran.fernandez]

How many against this are parents?

 

[Nintendo's Witch]

Just blow the whole internet up. Pull the fucking cable.

 

[MilkyJoe]

I wonder if their age verification system is intelligent enough to know if your account is over 18 years old that it doesn't need to verify your age...

yep, my gmail account is from the original pilot

 

[Kacho]

I wonder if their age verification system is intelligent enough to know if your account is over 18 years old that it doesn't need to verify your age...

I wondered the same. My kids use my account to watch Aphmau and other stuff on the TV so I might get flagged for that.

 

[spookyfish]

Don't panic. If you are over 18, you should be okay. Stop watching fortnite.

Oh, I'm sure their "AI" isn't trained to eventually flag everyone. Not at all.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

What a huge stupidity on the part of YouTube and the country's dark times.

They're just going to shoot themselves in the foot.

They do that and it opens up other options in other countries. In the end, that won't stop people from looking for other options.

 

[Kilau]

How many against this are parents?

I have kids, I don't need companies trying to parent my children and I certainly do not want any government filling that roll.

 

[P:axMagellanic]

I have kids, I don't need companies trying to parent my children and I certainly do not want any government filling that roll.

I remember 20ish years ago when cameras first started to go up around places like toll roads and the massive backlash. We're now so far from that we now have mega corporations with their noses half way up our arses.

 

[ReBurn]

Americans have a lot more important things to be worried about right now than age verification....

Seriously. I had to choose what to have for lunch. Was tough.

 

[Dalbajobas]

I wonder if their age verification system is intelligent enough to know if your account is over 18 years old that it doesn't need to verify your age...

You trust google too much.