YouTube is getting smarter at spotting kids trying to sneak onto the platform by pretending to be adults. The video-sharing giant, owned by Google, is using special computer programs called “artificial intelligence,” or AI, to help keep young viewers safe from videos meant for older audiences.
This new safety feature is being introduced in the United States at a time when YouTube, along with other popular platforms like Instagram and TikTok, are facing increased pressure to protect children from inappropriate content. Think of it like a digital bouncer, checking IDs at the door of a club, but instead of a physical card, it’s looking at your online behavior.
So, how does this AI work? It’s a type of AI called “machine learning,” which is like teaching a computer to learn from experience. Just like you learn to recognize a cat after seeing many pictures of cats, the AI learns to recognize the online habits of children and adults. It looks at things like what videos you watch and how long you’ve had your account. James Beser, YouTube’s director of product management for youth, explains that this technology helps them guess a user’s real age, even if the user lied about their birthday when creating the account. This allows YouTube to show age-appropriate content and put safety measures in place. Beser says this system has already been successful in other countries.
This new age-guessing AI adds another layer of protection to the methods YouTube already uses to figure out how old its users are. If YouTube thinks a user is underage, it will ask them to prove their age. This can be done by providing a credit card, taking a selfie, or showing a government ID.
Social media platforms are often criticized for not doing enough to protect kids. Concerns range from exposure to inappropriate content and cyberbullying to privacy issues and the potential for addiction. Many experts and parents worry about the impact of excessive screen time and the potential for online interactions to negatively affect children’s mental and emotional well-being.
One country taking a particularly strong stance is Australia. The government there plans to use new social media laws to ban children under 16 from YouTube entirely. Communications Minister Anika Wells pointed out that a significant number of Australian children – four out of ten – have reported seeing harmful content on YouTube. This highlights the importance of platforms taking proactive steps to protect their youngest users. The Australian government believes that this ban, set to take effect on December 10th, is necessary to shield children from what they call “predatory algorithms,” which are designed to keep users engaged and can sometimes lead to excessive screen time or exposure to harmful content.
This ban is considered one of the strictest in the world and has caught the attention of other countries considering similar measures. While YouTube argues that it is a video-sharing platform, not a social media site, the Australian government disagrees. They see YouTube as a place where children can be exposed to harmful content and are taking action to protect them.
YouTube, in response to the Australian ban, emphasized its role as a provider of free, high-quality content, often viewed on TV screens, rather than a social media platform. However, the debate over how to classify and regulate online platforms continues, with the well-being of children at the forefront.
The use of AI for age verification is just one piece of a larger puzzle. Other strategies for protecting children online include:
Parental controls: Tools that allow parents to monitor and restrict their children’s online activity.
Content filtering: Systems that block inappropriate content based on keywords, categories, or other criteria.
Reporting mechanisms: Easy ways for users to flag inappropriate content or behavior.
Education and awareness campaigns: Efforts to teach children and parents about online safety and responsible digital citizenship.
The online world is constantly evolving, and so are the challenges of keeping children safe. As technology advances, so too must the methods used to protect young users. The use of AI by platforms like YouTube represents a significant step in this ongoing effort, but it is likely just one of many innovations to come as we navigate the digital age. The debate continues on how to best balance access to information and entertainment with the need to protect children from potential harms online. It’s a conversation that involves parents, educators, policymakers, and the tech companies themselves, all working together to create a safer online environment for future generations.
