Overview

• Over the next few weeks, YouTube will roll out machine learning–powered age estimation to a limited set of U.S. users to identify those under 18.
• The system analyzes signals such as viewing history and account longevity to infer a user’s age regardless of their submitted birthdate.
• Heuristic protections for inferred teen accounts include disabling personalized ads, limiting repetitive recommendations and activating screen time reminders.
• Users flagged as minors can contest the inference by uploading a government ID, taking a selfie or providing a credit card to regain full access.
• The initiative builds on YouTube Kids and supervised accounts and responds to new U.S. state laws and the U.K.’s Online Safety Act age-verification rules.