Tech Desk 
Aug 09, 2025
YouTube has officially announced the launch of its artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) age estimation tool soon.
The video streaming giant revealed that this feature will better protect minors who have provided fake dates of birth while making their accounts.
YouTube to prevent minors from using platform
In a support page, YouTube said that the age estimation model will be released in the US, starting August 13, to determine if a user is under the age of 18.
Previously, the company said in a blog post that this technology was being implemented so that teenagers and children using the video streaming platform can be treated appropriately as per their age.
Notably, the tool picks up data such as the searches made on YouTube, the category of videos watched, and the longevity of the account.
If an account is determined to be under the age of 18, YouTube will disable personalised advertising, turn on digital well-being features, and add safeguards to video recommendations while limiting repetitive views of certain types of content.
It is worth noting that the AI system can make mistakes. YouTube said if a user's account is incorrectly flagged as a teen account, they will have the option to verify their age by submitting a government ID, uploading a verification selfie, or providing a credit card.
Once a user is flagged, they will have to verify their age by providing the required documents. However, the current options are all somewhat privacy invasive, which can pose a tricky situation for privacy-concerned individuals.
