YouTube's New AI Age Verification System - An Era Where AI Determines "Under 18": Protecting Children or Peeking into Viewing History?

1. What Happened: YouTube's "AI Age Verification" Launches

On August 13, 2025 (U.S. time), YouTube began testing AI-based age estimation for logged-in users in the U.S. The key point is shifting from using the birth date at registration to estimating whether a user is under 18 based on actual behavior data (such as viewing categories, search trends, and account history). If a user is estimated to be a minor, personalized ads are halted, digital wellbeing features are activated, and exposure to age-restricted content is limited. Appeals against incorrect estimations can be made using ID, credit card, or selfie, among other methods. AP News

This move quickly spread, starting with a WebProNews article titled "YouTube Launches AI Age Verification Amid Creator Privacy Backlash." The article points out that the process of analyzing viewing habits→suspecting minors→confirming with ID or facial scans is amplifying privacy concerns and leakage risks, and reports that creator backlash is growing. WebProNews

2. Why Now: Regulatory Pressure and a "Practical Solution"

In recent years, there has been an acceleration in strengthening online protection for minors across various countries. With the UK's Online Safety Bill, Australia's age restriction debates, and political pressure on the U.S.'s minor protection laws, platforms have been questioned on the effectiveness of their measures. At the end of July, YouTube stated in its official blog that it would expand built-in protections to more teens in the U.S. and announced its plan to introduce machine learning-based age estimation. The start of this test marks a milestone in that roadmap. blog.youtubeThe Guardian

3. How It Works: Algorithmic "Estimation" and Escalation

The new method is fundamentally based on "estimation→automatic application of protection." Given the reality that self-reported registration age can be easily falsified, behavioral data is considered to have more scalability and is seen as less "invasive" than constantly requiring ID uploads. However, the estimation accuracy naturally involves false positives and false negatives, and cases where creators or adult viewers are incorrectly treated as minors are unavoidable. YouTube provides a pathway for appeals (using ID, credit card, or selfie), but since real names and facial data are involved, the privacy debt can skyrocket. AP News

4. The Scene of Controversy: What's Being Said on Social Media

On X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, since the announcement of the implementation, anger, anxiety, and practical consultations have been swirling.

• On X, posts with sentiments like "the choice between submitting ID or facing viewing restrictions is unacceptable" and "being monitored by AI through history is surveillance" have spread. From creator accounts, voices claiming "massive backlash from day one of rollout" have also been prominent. X (formerly Twitter)

• On Reddit's r/YouTube and r/Futurology, there are calls for spreading petitions, boycott discussions, handling false estimations, and whether to submit ID, with practical Q&A and calls to action.

• Multiple petitions on Change.org have gathered tens of thousands of signatures in a short period, with the slogan **"AI is tracking your entire viewing history"** becoming the rallying cry against the initiative. Change.org

Media reports generally agree that the test begins with some users in the U.S., with the core points being appeals for incorrect estimations and the purpose of protecting minors. However, questions about the transparency of the system and the handling of data remain unresolved. AP NewsTIME

5. What Are Creators Afraid Of?

1. Damage to Revenue and Reach: As minor estimations increase, there is a potential impact from age restrictions and ad limitations. There is a strong concern that adult-oriented explanations and political or social issues, which are in the **"PG-13 and above"** area, may be more likely to be excluded from recommendations. AP News

2. Uncertainty in Data Protection: There is no clear delineation of compensation and responsibility in case of leakage when submitting ID or selfies. WebProNews reports on the emotional backlash from creators, referring to it as "AI spying," and notes that centralized management of personal information increases the targets for attacks. WebProNews

3. Chilling Effect on Expression: To avoid incorrect estimations, self-censorship in editing may spread, and there is a risk that boundary themes will shrink. National-level regulations and platform tuning create dual pressure. The Guardian

6. Advocates Suggest "Second-Best Solutions"

Instead of a fully mandatory ID submission, initially using AI estimation with the principle of **"when in doubt, protect"** and requesting additional confirmation only when necessary is seen by some as a "lesser evil" in terms of social trade-offs. Opinions appreciate the design that balances safety and convenience through continued logged-out viewing while blocking some content, allowing for gradual access. AP News

7. Core of the Debate Organized into Four Points

• Safety: Reducing exposure to minors is a clear public benefit. Can errors be absorbed through appeal means? AP News

• Privacy: There is strong resistance to AI evaluating sensitive data like viewing history. Transparency reports and explicit retention periods are essential. WebProNews

• Freedom of Expression: There is a risk of over-restriction of boundary content. The explainability of operations (which indicators were used for estimation and restriction) is questioned. TIME

• Effectiveness: How to fill the gaps for avoidance through VPNs or alternative clients. The technical "whack-a-mole" continues. VPNOverview.com

8. Future Checkpoints

1. Disclosure of error rates and appeal success rates

2. Transparency in data minimization

   (which indicators are retained and for how long)

3. Quantitative evaluation of impact on creator revenue

4. Connection with regulations in various countries: The potential spread of insights from the U.S. test to other regions (UK, Australia, etc.) The Guardian

5. Dialogue with the Community: Whether there will be additional explanations or expanded FAQs in the official YouTube community Google Help

9. Editorial Comment: The Question is "Balancing Safety and Anonymity"

Is AI age estimation a bridge to a society of constant ID submission, or is it a "moderate measure" to reduce invasiveness? It is too early to make a definitive judgment. One thing is certain: the