What new feature is YouTube testing to protect minors?

YouTube is testing an age verification system as a means to enhance the safety and protection of minors on its platform. This feature aims to ensure that users are accurately identified according to their age, allowing YouTube to apply appropriate content restrictions and prevent access to videos that may not be suitable for younger audiences. By verifying the age of users, YouTube can implement stricter controls and reduce minors' exposure to harmful or inappropriate content.

While options like a parental lock system could help parents control what their children watch, it's not as direct in verifying user age. Similarly, a content moderation team would focus on identifying and managing inappropriate content rather than specifically targeting age verification. Lastly, a video removal algorithm could be effective in filtering out unsuitable content but does not address the core issue of user age identification, which is critical in protecting minors on the platform. Thus, the age verification system directly aligns with YouTube's goal of creating a safer online environment for younger users.