PTC Commends YouTube for Testing AI Age Verification, Urges Caution

LOS ANGELES (August 14, 2025) – The Parents Television and Media Council (PTC) commends YouTube’s announcement that it will begin testing an age verification feature to protect children from harmful content.

“YouTube has wisely decided to help protect children from graphic sex, violence, and profanity on its platform. Any tool that can help provide more control to parents over what their children can be exposed to on YouTube is good. However, we hope YouTube doesn’t solely rely on this age verification tool, as AI can give inaccurate results and return bad data,” said Melissa Henson, vice president, Parents Television and Media Council.

“There are plenty of questions that parents might have around YouTube’s age verification tool. For instance, if the AI algorithm is basing the age verification on viewer history, what happens if a parent lets their child watch YouTube on the parent’s phone? What happens if a child is watching inappropriate content that leads AI to assume the child is older than they actually are? What is the likelihood that adult content could continue to fly under the radar, as it does now on YouTube Kids? What kind of personal data will YouTube be tracking and storing in order to educate its AI? It’s important to consider these concerns, as parents should not have a false sense of security when it comes to what their children can watch,” said Henson.