YouTube is set to launch an artificial intelligence-powered age verification system, designed to prevent minors from accessing adult content on the platform. The system, being tested with a limited number of US users before a wider rollout, will analyze user activity and behavior to determine if they are under 18.
If identified as a minor, users will be automatically opted-in to the teen safety measures, which include restrictions on certain content, adjusted recommendations, and prohibitions on repetitive viewing. Adult users incorrectly flagged as minors will need to provide identification or proof of age.
The move aims to tackle concerns over underage users accessing adult content, with some social media platforms already implementing similar age verification systems. YouTube’s AI system will work only for logged-in users, but signed-out users won’t be able to access age-restricted content.
Critics are worried about the potential impact on user privacy and experience, particularly with regards to providing sensitive personal information to verify age. The platform assures that it uses advanced security measures to protect user data, with options for users to manage their own privacy settings.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/13/tech/youtube-ai-age-verification