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Contents4
  1. Background
  2. YouTube's government ID requirement
  3. Consumer response
  4. References

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YouTube has implemented an AI-powered age verification system, which scans the user's channel history to determine their age. If the user is deemed to be under the age of 18, they will lose access to age-restricted videos and certain site features, unless a government-issued ID or video verification is provided.

Background

YouTube is a social media site created on 14 February 2005.[1] It allows users to upload and view videos from their electronic devices. As the platform has grown in popularity, a few content creators have begun to make significant amounts of revenue from their videos, with some creators able to use their earnings as a primary source of income.[2][3]

YouTube's government ID requirement

On 29 July 2025, in response to the UK's Online Safety Act,[4] YouTube announced that it would be testing a new feature on its platform which scans each user's channel history (including viewed videos) with AI which, if it's determined that the user is under-age (regardless of birth date in their Google account), a government-issued ID or video verification will be required to verify that the user is at least 18 years old.[5][6] If the user decides not to, their account will be unable to access age-restricted "potentially mature content" and content deemed as problematic for repetitive consumption, as well as losing access to many creator features and abilities (if they were activated prior).

Additionally, YouTube now requires creators to re-upload IDs and video verification if the user has:

  • Failed to make use of the advanced features;
  • Allowed the previous video verification to be deleted after the 30-day notice is given; and
  • Does not have a suitably built-up channel history

If they do not want to lose access to the advanced features, the user can choose to keep their video "for one more year". As YouTuber "DeepHumor" pointed out in his YouTube Short on the matter, "YouTube could keep your ID or video verification for literal years. And that is without mentioning the fact that over the years, YouTube has been sued for more than a billion dollars for violating privacy laws."[7]

YouTube has responded stating that:

"This won't be required for all users. We've always had the option for age verification via ID or credit card if someone is incorrectly estimated to be under 18 — this update is about using better technology to make these estimations."[8]

This most likely refers to their eligibility system for advanced creator features, of which ID and/or video verification is a method of gaining access.[9]

Consumer response

Some users have signed a Change.org petition (with 130,086 verified signatures as of 24 January 2025) and have contacted YouTube to revoke this new requirement.[10][11] As of 24 January 2026, the petition has not received a response from YouTube.

References

  1. ↑ "YouTube turns 20! The numbers behind the platform". BBC. 2025. Archived from the original on 14 Feb 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  2. ↑ "Creator Economy". YouTube. Archived from the original on 28 May 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  3. ↑ Molenaar, Koba (25 Nov 2024). "15 of the Most Popular Content Creators on YouTube to Check Out". Influencer Marketing Hub. Archived from the original on 5 Oct 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  4. ↑ "Online Safety Act: explainer". GOV.UK. 24 Apr 2025. Archived from the original on 21 Feb 2026. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  5. ↑ Beser, James (29 Jul 2025). "Extending Our Built-in Protections To More Teens On YouTube". YouTube Official Blog. Archived from the original on 29 Jul 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  6. ↑ Ingram, Michael (30 Jul 2025). "YouTube is Rolling Out A New Controversial Feature". GameRant. Archived from the original on 30 Jul 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  7. ↑ DeepHumor (22 Aug 2025). "Youtube ID age verification can EXPIRE?". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 Aug 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  8. ↑ @TeamYouTube (31 Jul 2025). "TeamYouTube on X". X. Archived from the original on 15 Apr 2026. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  9. ↑ "Learn about feature access for YouTube Creators". YouTube Help. 16 Aug 2025. Archived from the original on 29 Aug 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  10. ↑ Gerfdas Gaming (July 2025). "YouTube's AI Tracks Everything You Watch — Stop This Now". Change.org. Archived from the original on 28 Jan 2026. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  11. ↑ Belanger, Ashley (12 Aug 2025). "YouTube backlash begins: "Why is AI combing through every single video I watch?"". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 12 Aug 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
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