YouTube to Launch AI Age Verification From Today to Protect Kids from Inappropriate Content

YouTube is coming up with a way, wherein the app will check how old you are, and it is not just relying on the birthday you entered when you signed up. Starting this Wednesday, YouTube will begin using artificial intelligence in order to estimate a user’s right age based on their behavior. This move comes out as part of a new push to keep younger audiences away from content that’s not meant for them, especially adult content.

While the move aims to make YouTube kid-friendly, it is also raising concerns among privacy experts and adults, worrying that they could possibly be flagged by YouTube’s AI.

Here’s Why YouTube is Coming Up with This Move

YouTube’s new system is built to determine whether a viewer is under or over 18 years of age. The app will determine this factor by looking at the user’s activity patterns. In addition, the app will pay attention to what user are watching, how they search, and even how long their account have been active.

If YouTube’s AI thinks someone is a minor, the platform will automatically switch on its teen safety settings. This means restricted access to certain types of content, changes in video recommendations, reminders to “take a break,” limits on repetitive viewing, and the removal of personalized ads.

Starting tomorrow (Aug 13), YouTube will begin using AI to estimate users’ ages and apply restrictions in the U.S. Helpful safety tool, or privacy risk?

You can read or sign the petition opposing YouTube’s AI age checks at https://t.co/6YNI5ZJOD3.#youtube #youtubeai #agecheck… pic.twitter.com/Fjr2ACKyOd

— Change.org (@Change) August 12, 2025

For those over 18 who are mistakenly identified as underage, YouTube will ask for proof in the form of a government-issued ID, a credit card, or even a selfie. This is the main concern for most experts, and adults handing over personal data to a tech giant is something not everyone is comfortable with.

Why YouTube Is Introducing AI Age Checks Now

This is not just a wake-up call for social media platforms. The decision came after facing growing pressure from lawmakers, parents, and advocacy groups over how easy it is for teenagers to bypass age restrictions. Faking a birthday is one of the easiest ways to create an account on any platform.

Other platforms like Meta (for Instagram) and TikTok have already rolled out similar AI tools to spot underage users. Reddit and Discord have also tightened age verification in response to the UK’s new Online Safety Act, which enforces stricter child safety measures online.