YouTube is reportedly mass restricting accounts and ramping up age verification

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Many YouTube viewers are noticing more age restrictions on videos as Google starts using its AI system to guess viewers’ ages more often.

YouTube announced in July that it would expand a new age-estimation technology to the US, following successful trials in Europe. This system works by looking at things like how long an account has been active, what the user does on YouTube, and their viewing history to guess if someone is a minor. It also considers the kinds of videos people search for and watch to help determine their age.

If an account is identified as belonging to a minor, it will automatically have certain limitations. These include less personalized advertising, fewer recommendations that might be considered inappropriate, and blocked access to adult content.

Though some privacy advocates called the system unsettling and a step too far, YouTube moved forward with it, promising users that information provided for identity or payment verification wouldn’t be used for advertising.

YouTube expands AI age estimation tech and restricts more accounts

Initially, only a few users noticed the new feature, but now it’s much more widely visible.

Hey, so I’ve noticed, and a lot of other gamers are talking about it too – starting around September 24th, we’re suddenly being asked to verify our age a *lot* more often. It’s happening on mobile apps and when I’m watching videos online, which is kind of annoying. 9to5Google is reporting it’s a pretty big jump in these requests, so it’s not just me!

The day has finally come.
byu/Furry-0145 inyoutube

Users are receiving messages saying their account settings have been updated and they need to verify their ID to get back in. This is happening to more people than before, including those who hadn’t experienced this issue previously, and they won’t be able to access their accounts until they prove their age.

For some time, YouTube has been preparing to expand its AI-powered age verification system, letting users know it would eventually apply to more than just a limited number of people. The way the system works could also lead to adults being incorrectly identified as minors when watching videos made for younger audiences.

While Google claims it won’t keep identification information for advertising purposes, cybersecurity experts are still worried. They point out that this data might be kept for other internal company uses.

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2025-09-24 23:20