Google to roll out age assurance tech in SG to safeguard young users online

Google is stepping up efforts to strengthen online safety for young users in Singapore with the rollout of age assurance solutions across its products in the first quarter of 2026.

The move was announced at its Safer with Google event today, which was attended by Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State for Digital Development and Information.

The new feature is designed to better distinguish between younger users and adults, ensuring that those under 18 receive more age-appropriate experiences.

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The rollout comes amid rising parental concerns about online risks such as exposure to inappropriate content. A recent survey by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) highlighted calls for greater support in helping parents manage their children’s digital activities.

Google’s age assurance technology uses a machine learning model to estimate a user’s age based on signals associated with their account, such as search activity or video categories viewed on YouTube.

Those identified as under 18 will automatically have safeguards applied, including SafeSearch filters enabled by default, restricted access to adult apps on Google Play, the disabling of Timeline in Google Maps, and wellbeing reminders and content limits on YouTube.

Users flagged as younger than 18 will be notified of changes to their settings and offered the option to verify their age if incorrectly classified. Verification methods may include uploading a government-issued ID or a selfie.

Google said the approach balances safety for young users while ensuring adults continue to access the services they need.

The initiative builds on existing family safety tools such as Family Link, supervised experiences on YouTube, and the "Be internet awesome" programme, which helps parents guide children towards safer online practices.

As part of its wider push to tackle online harms, Google is also rolling out the fourth edition of its YouTube Creators for Impact programme. This year’s cohort includes six local creators – Alderic, Avi Dixit, Jamie Lim Yin Yin, Lingyi from Wah!Banana, Mathilda Huang, and Ryan from Overkill Singapore – who will develop content addressing issues such as cyberbullying and harassment.

The creators will undergo expert-led workshops before releasing content aimed at raising awareness and providing accessible resources for young people navigating online risks.

"Keeping children and teens safe online is mission-critical. To further equip parents in this journey, we’re adding more proactive, built-in protections to complement the robust parental tools families already use. Our age assurance technology will estimate a user’s age and apply age-appropriate safeguards – from preventing access to adult-only apps to activating digital wellbeing tools," said Ben King, managing director of Google Singapore.

He added, "This isn't just about giving parents more tools, it's about our systems automatically providing an added layer of protection to ensure that every young person has age-appropriate experiences." 

In tandem, Rahayu said, "Our children are growing up in a world where technology shapes the way they see and experience their surroundings. To help them stay safe online, our society, including the government, educators, industry, community organisations and families, must work together. I am encouraged by Google’s commitment to introducing solutions, such as age assurance technology across its products, which will be useful in helping our children harness the benefits of technology confidently and safely." 

Google’s move comes as Singapore ramps up its own efforts to safeguard younger users online. Digital development and information minister Josephine Teo recently said on CNA’s "Deep dive" podcast that the government may soon require social media platforms to introduce age assurance systems, building on upcoming mandates for app stores to implement verification measures by March 2026.

The ministry is studying whether similar requirements should apply to social platforms, following prime minister Lawrence Wong’s National Day rally address, where he flagged online harms as a growing concern. Teo compared the measures to age checks at cinemas, stressing that protections should extend beyond download restrictions to cover the type of content children encounter.

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