New York —

YouTube will begin guessing users’ ages using artificial intelligence on Wednesday, as part of an effort to prevent kids from accessing inappropriate content online.

It’s part of a broader push to make social media safer for young people, but some users are already worried about what it will mean for their privacy and experience on the platform.

The technology is designed to determine whether a viewer is an adult or a minor based on their activity on the platform — regardless of the birthdate they submitted when they signed up. The tool is being tested with a limited number of US users for now, but it’s expected to be rolled out more widely in the coming months.

If the tool identifies a user as a minor, YouTube will automatically apply its existing teen safety measures to

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