YouTube to use AI to detect kids lying about their age

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FILE - YouTube is rolling out new AI-powered age-estimation tools to help prevent underage users from accessing restricted content.  (Photo Illustration by Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

YouTube is taking another step to shield kids from inappropriate videos by rolling out a new AI-powered system designed to estimate users’ ages—even if they lie about it. The platform says the technology will help enforce age restrictions more effectively and apply extra protections for minors.

The system uses a range of behavioral signals—like what types of videos people search for and watch—to detect when someone might be under 18. Once flagged, those users will automatically get a different experience on YouTube, one that limits their exposure to certain types of content and advertising.

The move comes amid increasing pressure from lawmakers and online safety advocates for platforms to stop underage users from accessing content considered harmful or inappropriate.

How will YouTube’s age verification work?

The backstory:

Google, which owns YouTube, first announced in February 2025 that it would begin using AI to verify the age of its users. YouTube confirmed this week that the technology is now in a live testing phase.

The company said it is piloting the system on a small group of U.S. users to evaluate how accurately it can detect minors. The tool doesn’t rely on face scans or account-provided birthdates. Instead, it looks at usage patterns such as the kinds of videos a person searches for, what categories they watch, and how long their account has been active.

If YouTube’s system determines a user is under 18, it will automatically:

• Turn off personalized ads
• Activate digital wellbeing features
• Limit some video recommendations, including preventing repeated views of certain content

Adults who are incorrectly flagged as minors will have the option to verify their age using a government-issued ID or credit card.

What you can do:

Donna Rice Hughes, president and CEO of the nonprofit Enough is Enough, said YouTube’s approach is a welcome shift toward more accountability in protecting young users.

"It’s always encouraging to me as a veteran working in the internet safety space for over three decades to see big tech companies being proactive to better protect youth online," Hughes told CNET.

She also emphasized the need for even more guardrails, especially when it comes to sexually explicit content. "I also encourage YouTube to turn on safety defaults to block sexually explicit videos and advertising and other harmful content for all users under 18," she said.

Hughes added that default safety controls across devices and platforms would go a long way in helping overwhelmed parents manage their children’s online activity.

What's next:

YouTube says it will gradually expand the rollout once it confirms the technology is working as expected. The company did not specify how long the testing phase would last or when the AI tool might become a standard feature for all users.

Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers and child safety groups continue to push for stricter online age verification laws and platform accountability, signaling that more changes could be coming across the tech industry.