Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Baby

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1755217055512cropped-hessam-nabavi-vTQbhYfZZ5s-unsplash.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Hessam Nabavi/Unsplash</span></span></span></div><p>SAN FRANCISCO, United States — YouTube has started using artificial intelligence (AI) to figure out when users are children pretending to be adults on the popular video-sharing platform amid pressure to protect minors from sensitive content.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/05/23/22/pinoy-kids-spend-most-time-on-youtube-tiktok">Pinoy kids spend most time on YouTube, TikTok: cybersecurity firm</a></div><p>The new safeguard is being rolled out in the United States as Google-owned YouTube and social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok are under scrutiny to shield children from content geared for grown-ups.</p><p>A version of AI referred to as machine learning will be used to estimate the age of users based on a variety of factors, including the kinds of videos watched and account longevity, according to YouTube Youth director of product management James Beser.</p><p>&quot;This technology will allow us to infer a user&#x27;s age and then use that signal, regardless of the birthday in the account, to deliver our age-appropriate product experiences and protections,&quot; Beser said.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;ve used this approach in other markets for some time, where it is working well.&quot;</p><p>The age-estimation model enhances technology already in place to deduce user age, according to YouTube.</p><p>Users will be notified if YouTube believes them to be minors, giving them the option to verify their age with a credit card, selfie, or government ID, according to the tech firm.</p><p>Social media platforms are regularly accused of failing to protect the well-being of children.</p><p>Australia will soon use its landmark social media laws to ban children under 16 from YouTube, a top minister said late last month, stressing a need to shield them from &quot;predatory algorithms.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2025/7/30/australia-to-ban-under-16s-from-youtube-0917">Australia to ban under-16s from YouTube</a></div><p>Communications Minister Anika Wells said four-in-ten Australian children had reported viewing harmful content on YouTube, one of the most visited websites in the world.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/11/03/23/youtube-takes-aim-at-teens-bingeing-on-body-image-videos">YouTube takes aim at teens bingeing on body image videos</a></div><p>Australia announced last year it was drafting laws that will ban children from social media sites such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram until they turn 16.</p><p>&quot;Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens,&quot; the company said in a statement at the time.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s not social media.&quot;</p><p>On paper, the ban is one of the strictest in the world.</p><p>It is due to come into effect on December 10.</p><p>The legislation has been closely monitored by other countries, with many weighing whether to implement similar bans.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6YRbp9NIpRQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WSvLUNhFKtc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The age-estimation AI enhances technology already in place to deduce user age, according to YouTube.</p>

The age-estimation AI enhances technology already in place to deduce user age, according to YouTube.

YouTube turns to AI to spot children posing as adults

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YouTube turns to AI to spot children posing as adults

Agence France-Presse

Published August 15, 2025 08:20 AM PHT

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