Author: Frank Salvato

YouTube is rolling out a re-test of built-in direct messaging, allowing users to share videos and chat within the app — initially only in Ireland and Poland for users 18 and older. The company removed the feature in 2019 and now says this revival is a “top feature request.” The experiment requires users to send and accept invites, and conversations are subject to the same Community Guidelines that apply to videos and comments. Sources: 9to5 Google, Android Authority Key Takeaways – The move signals YouTube’s shift toward more in-app social interaction and content sharing, rather than reliance solely on external messaging…

YouTube is beginning the rollout in the United States of a new artificial-intelligence system designed to estimate whether users are under 18 years old — regardless of the age they input when creating their account. The platform will analyze factors such as the user’s watch history, search queries, and the age of their account to flag those likely to be minors. If flagged as under-18, the user will be subject to enhanced protections including disabling of personalized ads, activation of digital-wellbeing tools (like screen-time reminders), and stricter content recommendations. Users who believe they have been misidentified may appeal by uploading…