YouTube to Use AI for Teen Account Detection and Safety Measures
YouTube is testing a new machine learning tool designed to identify whether viewers should be classified as teens. The platform will analyze user behavior, including search history, video categories watched, and account age, to determine if an account belongs to a minor. If the AI flags an account as belonging to a teen, YouTube will automatically disable personalized ads, enable digital wellbeing features, and apply additional safeguards.
The trial will begin with a small group of US users before expanding more broadly. YouTube has already been using similar AI-based detection in other markets, where it claims the system has performed well. The company has steadily increased protections for younger users since introducing supervised teen accounts in 2021.
Unlike other platforms, YouTube will require users to verify their age if the AI incorrectly identifies them as under 18. Options for verification include submitting a credit card or government ID. This approach differs from Meta, which allows users to manually adjust their settings if its AI age-detection tool makes a mistake. Meta has been using similar AI tools on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger since earlier this year.
The move highlights the growing use of AI in moderating online experiences, particularly for younger audiences. As platforms face increasing scrutiny over child safety, automated systems like this could become more common. However, the reliance on user verification for corrections may raise concerns about accessibility and privacy.
YouTube has not specified when the feature will roll out globally but expects to refine the system based on feedback from the initial US trial. The company continues to expand its teen safety measures, balancing automation with user control in an effort to protect younger viewers.
