YouTube announced the rollout of age-estimation technology in the U.S. to provide a more age-appropriate experience for teen users. This technology will use various signals to determine users’ possible age, regardless of the birthday entered during account signup.
When a user is identified as a teen, YouTube will introduce new protections and experiences, such as disabling personalized advertising and limiting repetitive viewing of certain content. These measures aim to enhance digital well-being by providing tools like screen time reminders.
The company plans to implement this technology gradually, starting with a small group of U.S. users before expanding. The initiative is part of YouTube’s efforts to enhance safety for younger audiences, following the launch of YouTube Kids and supervised accounts in recent years.
Additionally, several U.S. states have passed laws to regulate minors’ social media use, including age verification and parental consent requirements. The U.K. has also enforced age-verification checks in line with the Online Safety Act passed in 2023.
YouTube has not disclosed the specific signals used for age inference but mentioned analyzing factors like account activity and longevity. The new system will only affect signed-in users and will be accessible across various platforms, including web, mobile, and connected TV.
