YouTube, the world’s biggest video website, is now testing a new way to check people’s ages in the U.S. — and it’s using artificial intelligence (AI) to do it.
Why Does YouTube Need Age Verification?
YouTube has videos for everyone, but some videos are only for adults. This can be because of:
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Violence
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Strong language
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Sensitive topics
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Health or safety rules
YouTube needs to make sure that kids don’t watch videos meant only for grown-ups.
How the AI Age Verification Works
The new AI tool looks at a short video selfie or a single photo of the user. The AI then:
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Analyzes the face to estimate the person’s age
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Decides if the person is over the required age limit
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Gives or denies access to the video
YouTube says it will not keep the selfie or photo after the check.
You can read about YouTube’s safety policies on YouTube Help.
Privacy Concerns
Some people are worried about privacy and security. They want to know:
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How safe is the data?
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Will YouTube store my face photo?
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Can hackers steal the data?
YouTube says the AI process is secure and that pictures are deleted immediately after the check. The system uses a third-party partner for facial analysis, similar to what other websites use for ID checks.
Why Use AI for This?
Before, YouTube asked for ID cards or credit card checks. But those methods were slower and harder for some users. AI can:
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Work in seconds
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Avoid the need to upload ID documents
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Make it easier for users who do not have ID handy
Where Else This Is Used
AI age verification is not new. Other platforms have also started using it:
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Instagram tests AI face scans to check age for teen accounts
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TikTok uses AI to guess the age of users who try to see adult content
You can read more about AI age checks on BBC Technology News.
Benefits of AI Age Verification
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Faster access — no long wait times
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Better protection — stops kids from seeing harmful content
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Easier for parents — they can trust the platform more
Possible Problems
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Accuracy — AI might guess the age wrong sometimes
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Bias — AI could make mistakes with people from certain ethnic backgrounds
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Over-blocking — Some adults may be wrongly denied access
What Happens Next?
The test is now only in the United States, but YouTube might bring it to other countries if it works well. The company will use feedback from users to improve the system.
Quick Summary Table
| Feature | Old Method | New AI Method |
|---|---|---|
| Age Check | ID upload or credit card | Selfie analyzed by AI |
| Speed | Minutes to hours | Seconds |
| Data Kept | ID copy stored | Photo deleted after check |
| Coverage | Limited | Expanding |
Outbound Links Used