Several YouTube users are now getting blocked from watching certain videos by a prompt asking for sensitive information like credit card details and other documents for age verification.

It also seems that most users facing this issue are based in Europe. And there are plenty of complaints on the YouTube subreddit about the matter.

youtube age verification
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It is silly asking for credit card to verify age
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EU residents aren’t the only users facing this issue though, as there have been a couple of reports from the U.S. as well.

this happened to me in the us and I had my account since 2008, so my dad did the thing because I liked my account.
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What’s concerning about the matter is the fact that YouTube falsely flags some videos as age-restricted even though they have no content of such kind.

So what could be the cause behind this whole matter?

Well, Google announced a few months ago that YouTube in Europe was set to start asking users to provide additional evidence about their age before allowing them to watch mature content. You can read more about it here.

It seems that the basic information (which includes your date of birth) already associated with your Google account is insufficient, at least per the European laws. Hence these additional series of steps.

youtube verify age

Moreover, several users have opined that Google asking for credit card details is sketchy and they are uncomfortable sharing such information. Fret not though, as there is also an option to follow up with the verification using other IDs like a driving license or a passport.

It may take up to three days for the verification process to complete, so hold your horses until then! Hopefully, the prompt will never appear again afterward, as the process does seem to be a one-time thingy.

So in conclusion, the YouTube age verification request is nothing to worry about as it is merely the streaming platform conforming to laws as per the European Union’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD).

Just comply with the process once for a lifetime of obstruction-free video streaming.

With that being said, be sure to check out our dedicated YouTube bugs/issues tracker for further coverage on matters like these.

PiunikaWeb started as purely an investigative tech journalism website with main focus on ‘breaking’ or ‘exclusive’ news. In no time, our stories got picked up by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and many others. Want to know more about us? Head here.

Zohaib Ahmed
824 Posts

Simply love being surrounded by technology as it's a constant reminder of how far humans have advanced as a race. Every new development feels exciting, which I convey to others through writing. And after a day's work, gaming just feels therapeutic.

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