YouTube's New AI Age Restriction Impact

Recently, thanks to new laws and regulations passed in the United Kingdom, Australia, the European Union, and the United States, multiple platforms are being "age-gated", apparently meaning rolling out new age restrictions, including YouTube, a platform we use to upload our content. This could potentially affect us drastically.

What is This New Restriction?

Age restrictions are protocols used to protect children from disturbing, sexual, taboo, or otherwise "problematic" content. They are being added to websites where children predominantly browse, like YouTube. Speaking of which, YouTube is rolling out AI age restrictions for the same reason. This restriction will check if you are underage using the following factors:

• Your watch history

• Your comment history

• Your date of birth (obviously)

• If you had previously changed your birthday

Until you confirm your age using a government ID, you will be locked out of using YouTube. No, we don't mean you can't view any videos on the site! We mean that you will be restricted to "problematic" videos.

How Does the Public Feel About This?

Well, it's a mix of hope and outrage, with outrage being the majority's reaction. The first reason why they are not happy is that they're using AI, a tool known to do incorrect things and spread misinformation. Secondly, they choose this over the bots on YouTube. Those bots cause... well, problems I wouldn't want to share with my grandma.