YouTube has begun using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify children pretending to be adults on its platform, as pressure mounts on tech firms to protect minors from age-inappropriate content.
The measure is being rolled out in the United States, with YouTube and other social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok facing scrutiny over safeguarding children online.
According to James Beser, YouTube’s director of product management for youth, a machine learning system will estimate users’ ages using factors such as viewing history and account activity.
“This technology allows us to infer a user’s age and use that signal, regardless of the account birthday, to deliver age-appropriate experiences and protections,” Beser said.
Users flagged as minors will be notified and can verify their age through a credit card, selfie, or government ID. The system builds on existing age-detection technology already in use in other markets, where it has proved effective.
The move comes as countries like Australia prepare strict social media regulations to protect children. From 10 December, children under 16 will be prohibited from accessing YouTube and other social platforms, amid concerns over harmful content and “predatory algorithms,” according to Communications Minister Anika Wells.
YouTube emphasised that it is a video-sharing platform rather than a social media network, offering a library of free, high-quality content increasingly viewed on TV screens.