google is shadowbanning users from AI features

Google is limiting specific AI features from specific users. Here's how to check if you've been shadowbanned, how to fix it and my educated hypothesis on why this is happening.

the issue

Certain AI features, such as NotebookLM, are restricted to users aged 18 and over. While you can easily update your birthday through the Google Account Manager, there is a second, less obvious birthday tied to your account that Google do not openly disclose. As we know, Google collects a lot of data about its users. This extensive data collection has previously landed them in legal trouble, particularly regarding data gathered from children. To avoid anymore prosecutions, Google now ties an "estimated age" to your account, regardless of the birthday the user enters. Google do not publicly disclose what data Google use to create this "secret age", but I assume they aren't predicting an exact age, but are just looking out for certain behavioural patterns across their services (such as Search, Youtube & Android devices.) This means that, the more you use Google serivces, the more likely you are to be at risk of being shadowbanned.

why it matters

AI tools like NotebookLM are an incredible innovation for students looking for new tools to help with revision and information retention. Restricting access to featurs like this without clear communication leaves users frustrated and unaware of how to fix the issue and makes the feature practically impossible for teachers (outside of Computer Science and other related subjects where students are more likely to have a good understanding on this topic) to reccomend if some students aren't able to access it without clear reason.

have i been shadowbanned?

You are able to check if your account has been restricted due to a predicted age (despite how painfully unclear the wording is). Navigate to the "Data & Privacy" section in the Google Account manager. There you will find the option for "personalised ads". If this feature is unavailible to you, it means Google has predicted your account to be held by a user under the age of 18. (Disclaimer: if personalised ads are availible to you but are disabled, your account should be fine & you don't have to enable them to use the AI features - this is just the easiest way I've found to check if you're eligible.)

my account has been shadowbanned. now what?

- If your account has been shadowbanned and you are over the age of 18 with a valid form of Government ID or credit card, you can verify your age here. More information regarding age verification can be found on Google's account help page.

- If you don't have a valid form of Government ID or credit card or don't feel like handing over that kind of information to Google, your best bet is to make a new Google account. I reccomend using this new account exclusivley for using AI features, as the less information Google has about you, the lower your chances of being shadowbanned.

- If you are under the age of 18, I do not condone breaking Terms of Service by creating a new Google account just for use for AI services, however it would theoretically be possible to create a new account for using AI features exclusively to minimise your chances of being shadowbanned.

how could google resolve this?

There's not really a point in writing an entire article about a problem and not suggesting a solution, so I'll list a few.

Google could be more transparrent with their "secret age" policies. If they clearly disclosed why peoples accounts were being restricted from AI features like NotebookLM and highlighted it in the account manager with just a popup dislcosing that certain features are restricted because Google think the user is under 18, then that would be perfectly reasonable, but just disclosing that "your account is ineligible" is practically useless.

Google could offer a version of NotebookLM that doesn't collect as much data to make it compliant with national laws. If they detect a user is under 18 just stop collecting as much data as they would an adult. Of course, we don't live in a fantasy land, so the idea that Google stop harvesting data so egregiously can, sadly, be practically written off completely.

got something to say?

If you would like to discuss or challenge my findings, have any questions or just fancy a chat, feel free to email me. I'm relatively friendly. You can also find me on Bluesky (@dylanjn.com).