With more countries introducing age checks online, like the UK’s age verification and Australia’s announcement to ban children under the age of 17 from using YouTube, it’s no surprise that the Google-owned video platform has introduced AI age verification on its platform in Australia, in the UK, in the US and other countries to estimate how old its users are. But what is YouTube age verification that more and more people are complaining about online, and how can you avoid it? We take a look!

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First things first, here’s how you can turn off age verification on YouTube

Quick fix: Do not log in to your Google account when watching content on YouTube.

Best solution: Use a VPN to change your virtual location and bypass the age check.

Turning off YouTube age checks is unfortunately not possible. But as it is location-based, you can circumvent the verification by using a VPN and simulating that you live in a different location, one that is not yet subject to age verification checks.

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What is YouTube AI Age Verification?

Just one day after Australia’s government announced its plans to ban YouTube for children under the age of 17 and less than a week after the UK introduced its age verification of content on social media, YouTube announced that it would start rolling out its AI system to estimate the ages of its users in the US in order to give them an age-appropriate experience and protections.

In July 2025, YouTube noted that the rollout would be limited to a small set of users in the US at the start, after which Google plans to roll it out more widely. The tech giant also noted that the AI system wasn’t completely new, and that it had used this approach in other markets already for some time.

In addition to the US, YouTube users in Australia, the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, and the United Kingdom could already be asked to verify their age in order to watch age-restricted videos.

Since the announcement on YouTube’s blog, it looks like the AI age verification system is being increasingly rolled out, as more and more people report their accounts are being restricted online.

Screenshots of the titles of users’ posts on the YouTube Subreddit expressing anger and frustrations over YouTube’s AI age verification. Screenshots: Reddit.

How does YouTube’s age verification work?

YouTube AI age verification uses artificial intelligence to understand different signals to determine a user’s age. These include:

• What you search for
• The categories of the videos you watch
• The age of your account

While it’s reported to use these signals to predict the users’ age, people online have said that their accounts have been restricted even though their accounts are more than 18 years old. For example, one user on Reddit said their account was created in 2006.

A Reddit user posted in the YouTube Subreddit asking if anyone had automatically been verified as an adult and complained they had created their account in 2006. Screenshot: Reddit.

What happens if YouTube thinks you are under 18?

When YouTube identifies you as being under the age of 18, it puts different restrictions on your account. For example, it automatically disables personalized ads, blocks age-restricted videos, enables digital well-being tools, and adds more safeguards to recommendations, like limiting the repetitive viewing of some types of content.

If YouTube’s system incorrectly verifies you as a teen - which many have taken online to complain about - you’ll need to verify your age through one of the methods provided:

• Presenting government ID
• A credit card
• A selfie

Google has noted that not all options of age verification are available in all countries.

AI in the Google ecosystem

While it’s a good thing that there are restrictions on the types of content children and teens can see on YouTube, verifying ones age with AI is not a good solution. When reviewing the increasing posts on the YouTube subreddit of people complaining they have been falsely estimated as underage, AI-based age verification does not seem to be very accurate.

For users on YouTube who have had accounts for many years and who are over the age of eighteen, the frustration is totally understandable. Why would they be required to submit personal documents just so they can watch their favorite YouTuber or listen to their favorite band? This is not only a hassle, but also an invasion of one’s privacy – which is unacceptable. But Google has gone all in with the AI trend, and is now using AI on all of its platforms, pushing everyone to use – and hand over data to – Gemini. Just like other big tech companies, Google has also forced users into giving away their personal data for AI training, but you can still opt out, for instance on Android.

And when it comes to Google Search, leading Google employees do not even try to hide the fact that Google wants your data: Google’s Search AI Mode will know everything about you: Turn it off now!

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How to turn off YouTube age verification

The quick fix: Do not sign in to YouTube:

When you don’t sign into your YouTube account and watch videos without a login many standard videos will still be playable without being prompted to verify you’re over the age of 18. This is an easy solution that may work, but it’s worth noting that content that’s age-restricted won’t be viewable.

The best option: Use a VPN:

The best option to avoid YouTube’s AI age verification is to use a VPN to change your virtual location to a country where these age verification laws have not yet come into place. For example, you could connect from South Africa. This is the easiest option, and you get the added benefit of browsing the web more privately thanks to the VPN.

YouTube’s age verification is not a permanent solution

Age verification laws are becoming commonplace and introduced in more countries, so it’s understandable that YouTube would roll out this verification to ensure compliance, but it does not mean it’s the right solution. From the inconvenience of the AI-verification thinking you’re underage, to the data privacy issues that go along with it when being asked to submit personal data to YouTube, the video streaming service owned by Google. It’s no surprise that people are annoyed.

For now, using a VPN is the best option to avoid YouTube’s AI age verification, but if you are truly worried about giving away your personal data to Big Techs like Google, a permanent solution to stop this is to “DeGoogle” (with these alternatives) and stop supporting tech giants. Not only will it help protect your data, but it will also greatly improve your privacy!

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