Google is rolling out a new AI-powered system to estimate the age of its users in the United States, aiming to better identify and restrict access for people under 18.
This move builds on earlier efforts to protect young users, including age-based restrictions on YouTube. The new system will gradually launch over the next few weeks and initially impact only a small number of users, with broader expansion planned over time.
To determine a user’s age, Google will analyze activity such as search history and the types of YouTube videos viewed. If the system believes someone is under 18, it will automatically apply a range of restrictions similar to those already used for users who declare themselves as minors. These include turning off personalized ads, disabling adult app downloads from the Play Store, deactivating Timeline in Google Maps, limiting content recommendations, and enabling features like bedtime reminders on YouTube.
In cases where someone is wrongly flagged as underage, Google will allow users to verify their age by submitting a selfie or a photo of a government-issued ID. The company says this system is designed to support growing global demands for better age verification. Lawmakers in the US have been increasing pressure on tech platforms to enhance protections for minors, and the UK has already begun enforcing new age checks across services like Reddit, Spotify, Discord, and others.
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