Sometime this year, YouTube will be able to guess users’ ages using AI. In his annual letter, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan announced the company will roll out machine learning to estimate users’ ages.
By doing this, Mohan says YouTube will be able to distinguish between adults and young people, which will help the company “provide the best and most age-appropriate experiences and protections.”
This isn’t unlike Meta’s own AI child safety features. On platforms like Instagram, for instance, AI will scan users’ profiles for “signals” that they’re underage and/or have put a fake age on their Instagram profiles. It’s unclear whether YouTube will use machine learning in the same way.
The Social Media Youth Problem
Child safety on social media has been a point of contention in recent years. Numerous studies suggest that prolonged social media use can cause anxiety, depression, and body image issues in young people.
Furthermore, back in October, a judge ruled that 150 lawsuits from school districts against Google (YouTube’s owner), Meta, and TikTok will be able to proceed.
Moreover, in January last year, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy argued in a New York Times op-ed that social media platforms like YouTube should carry cigarette-style warning labels for young people.
The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency,” he wrote, “And social media has emerged as an important contributor.”
It’ll take more than a new AI feature to stop young people from misusing the internet. However, this could be a positive stop for moderation in a world where algorithms expose kids to mature content at younger and younger ages.
Further reading:
- YouTube Expands ‘Communities’ Feature To Enable More Fan-Creator Interaction
- Dr Disrespect’s YouTube Channel Re-Monetized
- NFL and YouTube Update Creator Program To Allow Former Players To Use Official Footage
- Should Youtubers Hold Themselves to Journalistic Ethics? The Size of their Audience Suggests So.
