Google is starting to roll out a new feature in the US that will help the company figure out whether someone using its services is under or over 18 and apply the right protections for younger users.
This new “age assurance” technology, which will initially be tested on a small group of users, is part of Google’s ongoing effort to make the internet safer for kids and teenagers. If all goes well, the feature will be expanded more broadly in the coming months.
The idea is simple: if Google thinks you’re under 18, it will automatically turn on certain settings to help protect your privacy and provide a safer experience. For example, YouTube will show reminders to take breaks or go to bed. On Google Maps, Timeline will be turned off. Personalized ads will be disabled, and access to age-restricted apps on the Play Store will be blocked.
So how does Google figure out your age in the first place?
The company uses machine learning to look at various signals from your account like what you search for or the types of videos you watch on YouTube to estimate your age. If they believe a user is a minor, they’ll get an email and notifications explaining the changes and how to verify their actual age if needed.
If someone is wrongly flagged as underage, they can correct it by uploading a selfie or a photo of their government ID.
Google says it has designed this system with privacy in mind and that it won’t share detailed user data with outside apps or websites. The company hopes its efforts, along with those of other tech players, will lead to a safer internet for everyone — especially young users.
This is just one part of Google’s wider strategy to protect kids online, which includes tools like YouTube Kids, expanded parental controls through Family Link, and default safety settings for teens.
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