Google has announced the introduction of a new technology that will allow it to automatically determine the age of its users using artificial intelligence. If the system finds that a user is under 18 years old, specific restrictions will be activated across various services.

These restrictions may include features such as sleep reminders on YouTube, limitations on personalized recommendations and advertisements, as well as disabling history on Google Maps and restricting access to certain content in the Play Store.

The algorithms will analyze users' search queries and the videos they watch on YouTube. Initially, the restrictions will affect only a small number of accounts in the US, but there are plans for future expansion.

In case of incorrect identification, Google will provide the option to confirm age through a photo ID or a selfie.

This initiative is part of a program announced by the company in February, starting with YouTube. Google attributes these changes to growing societal and political pressure — in the US, there is increasing criticism regarding the influence of social media on teenagers, and in the UK, legislation already requires age verification on platforms like Discord, Reddit, Bluesky, and Spotify.