Thousands of YouTube accounts wrongly flagged as under 18, users lose access to age-restricted videos

YouTube

YouTube users are facing a strange problem. Over the last 24 hours, thousands of people have reported that their accounts are suddenly being treated as if they belong to teenagers. The change has left many frustrated, since it puts their accounts under strict “teen protections.”

These protections mean no access to age-restricted videos, more frequent reminders about screen time, and ads that are no longer personalized. For adults who have been using YouTube for years, it feels like they have been locked out of the full experience without warning.

The issue seems to be linked to YouTube’s recently expanded AI-based age-detection system. Launched earlier this summer in the US, the system uses different signals to guess whether a user might be under 18. YouTube says the tool should not flag people just because they watch family-friendly videos, but the number of adult users complaining online suggests the system has become far more aggressive. Google is also working to extend this technology across its other platforms, including search.

Importantly, this is not the same as YouTube’s “Restricted Mode,” which hides mature content and can be turned off by the user. What people are seeing now is a deeper change: their entire account is classified as belonging to someone under 18. To reverse it, users must prove their age by submitting an ID, credit card details, or even a selfie.

The reactions online show just how divided people are. Some insist their accounts are decades old and clearly belong to adults, so YouTube should not need more proof. Others are upset about the idea of handing over personal data to Google just to watch content they already had access to. At the same time, some admit that plenty of actual teenagers may be trying to game the system by joking about fake IDs, VPNs, or celebrity photos.

The timing is not random. Governments have been cracking down on how tech companies handle young users online. YouTube in particular wants to avoid another costly penalty like the $170 million fine it paid in 2019 for mishandling children’s data.

For now, the message is clear: if your account has been flagged, the only way to get back to normal is to go through Google’s age-verification process. Otherwise, you will be stuck in teen mode, whether you like it or not.