Google recently announced new digital products that target kids, teens and parents. From additional family-focused controls to helpful experiences for kids and teens, Google is trying to protect youngsters and give parents control over the content they consume on a regular basis.
The list of improvements to existing safeguards Google has in place for under-18 users also includes a new machine learning model that will make it harder for teens to lie about their age.
The Mountain View company has taken some steps toward providing age-appropriate experiences to teens when they use its products, including a number of changes for all users under 18. For example, Google recently introduced a SafeSearch Filter, restricting sensitive ad content, gating age-restricted content on YouTube & Play, and implemented teen wellbeing protections on YouTube.
But that’s not enough since Google has decided to use machine learning to determine the age of a user. The search giant announced this week that it plans to start testing a machine learning-based estimation model. The test will be limited to the United States at launch, but Google plans to bring the technology to more countries over time.
Age verification has been one of the weaker links in Google's privacy strategy | Screenshot by PhoneArena
The machine learning model Google is going to test this year is meant to help the company estimate whether a user is over or under 18 so that it can provide a more age-appropriate experience.
Google hasn’t yet explained how this machine learning model will work, so it remains to be seen whether or not it will be more effective than the safeguards it has implemented right now.
In related news, Google announced it’s rolling out a new sensitive content warning feature in Google Messages. This feature is opt-in for adults, but mandatory for kids and teens. It can be managed via Android Settings and features parental controls for supervised accounts.
Cosmin, a tech journalist with a career spanning over a decade, brings a wealth of experience to PhoneArena. His expertise lies in brands like Samsung and Nokia, and he has a keen interest in innovative technologies. After a brief stint in PR, Cosmin returned to tech journalism in 2016, committed to delivering clear and objective news. When he's not writing or appearing as a guest on TV and radio shows, Cosmin enjoys playing RPGs, watching Netflix, and nurturing his passion for history and travel.
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