YouTube's New AI Age Check: What's the Deal?

YouTube has been busy rolling out its AI age verification system. It's not new, but it's now affecting more users. The platform first talked about this back in July, saying it would start in August. But it wasn't until late September that the first users saw these checks. Now, another group of users is facing them. So, what's happening? Some YouTube users on Reddit have noticed their accounts are now restricted. They can either accept these restrictions or prove they're over 18. To do this, they can use an official ID, take a selfie for age estimation, or use a credit card. What does this mean for younger users? Well, YouTube has some rules. They can't watch age-restricted videos. They only see non-personalized ads. There are also tools to help them manage their time on the platform, like reminders to take breaks or go to bed. When they upload videos or comment, they get privacy reminders. The platform also tries to avoid showing them too much of certain types of content. Their uploads are private by default. And they can't earn from gifts during live streams. But why is this happening? YouTube says it's about keeping younger users safe. But some users aren't happy. They feel it's invasive and unnecessary. It's a tricky situation. On one hand, it's important to protect younger users. On the other hand, some might feel it's too much. What do you think? Is this a good move by YouTube, or does it go too far?