Google will restrict accounts of minors using AI

Google is starting to use artificial intelligence to automatically determine the age of users. If the system determines that a person is under 18, the company will automatically enable appropriate restrictions across all services.

These include features like sleep reminders on YouTube, limiting personalized recommendations and advertising, disabling timelines in Google Maps, and blocking access to some content in the Play Store.

Algorithms will take into account what a user searches for and what videos they watch on YouTube. For now, the restrictions will be implemented for a "small subset" of accounts in the US, but the program will be expanded later.

In case of mistaken identity, Google will offer to confirm age via a photo of an ID card or selfie.

This is a continuation of an initiative that Google announced in February, starting with YouTube. The company explains the innovation by public and political pressure - in the US, criticism is growing about the impact of social networks on teenagers, and in the UK, legislation is already in force that requires age verification on platforms such as Discord, Reddit, Bluesky and Spotify.