YouTube introduces age verification for users

YouTube is continuing to introduce a series of privacy policies to protect its youngest users. This comes after the streaming giant came under fire in 2019 for violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and was forced to pay a substantial fine of $170 million. The platform’s new age verification policy is powered by artificial intelligence and was rolled out towards the end of 2020. Below, we look at what has changed and how AgeChecked can help with age verification for content.

What has changed for new subscribers?

New users to the site will have to verify their age before they can access the full range of services YouTube has to offer. Upon registration, viewers will be asked to provide photographic identification to prove they are over the age of 18 to enable them to watch age-restricted content. This will also prohibit younger viewers from accessing videos with adult themes or messages. The tech giant has also warned that as soon as authorisation takes place, any images uploaded for this purpose will be deleted with immediate effect.

How will this affect existing content?

As with any major changes to its guidelines and policies, these new rules may affect the moneymaking potential of existing content currently available on the site. Channels involved in YouTube’s Partner Program can monetise their videos and access greater creator support. As age verification continues to roll out, fewer views may equal less money. The site has, however, reassured users that the majority of videos targeted already violate the company’s advertiser-friendly guidelines. In other words, they are currently supported by little to no advertisements and do not stand to make any money as it is.

A growing number of users are also concerned that any age-restricted content they produce will no longer be visible to their subscribers. YouTube has confirmed that, as has always been the case on the site, age-restricted content is much less likely to be advertised. However, there is no company-wide rule prohibiting adult content from appearing on subscriber’s homepages.

Mistakes will be made

Although YouTube is making a conscious effort to avoid another global scandal, artificial intelligence technology is far from perfect, and mistakes will be made. In the past, the site has had to defend a number of wrongfully applied labels and channel takedowns as a result of technological errors. But this latest move proves that YouTube is taking user privacy and security seriously and is committed to providing a safe space online for viewers of all ages and interests.

How can AgeChecked help?

YouTube are under pressure to provide a greater set of rules and regulations when it comes to protecting their most vulnerable users. Video streaming platforms can be especially volatile and with little to no age-verification measures in place, content can slip through the cracks. By implementing these new changes, YouTube is set to be one of the first social media giants to take user safety and security into their own hands and pave the way for others to follow their lead.

AgeChecked is committed to providing a safe space online and ensuring minors are protected from age-restricted content. We offer a wide range of secure age verification solutions for online content so visitors to sites like YouTube can engage with video content in a way that is fun but safe.

To find out how to introduce a stricter set of rules and regulations and protect your viewers from age-restricted content online, get in touch today.