Overview

• On August 13, Google began a limited US trial that uses AI-driven age checks across YouTube and other services to detect under-18 accounts.
• Machine-learning models analyze search history, video categories and account tenure to infer whether a user is likely under 18.
• Accounts flagged as minors automatically lose personalized ads, gain content filters, have timeline tracking disabled and receive digital wellbeing prompts.
• Users who believe they were misidentified can appeal by verifying their age with a government ID, credit card or a selfie.
• Google is closely monitoring pilot outcomes and user feedback under mounting global child safety rules before expanding internationally.