Fact check: What documents are accepted for YouTube id verification?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, YouTube accepts three primary types of documents for ID verification:

• Government-issued identification cards - This is consistently mentioned across all sources as an accepted form of verification ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}
• Credit cards - All sources confirm that credit cards can be used for age verification purposes ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}
• Selfies - Multiple sources indicate that users can also verify their identity using a selfie ^{[1] [3] [4]}

These verification methods are specifically designed for YouTube's AI-powered age verification system that determines if users are 18 or older ^{[2] [5]}. The system is being implemented to comply with online safety laws and protect minors from inappropriate content ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important contextual information about why these documents are required:

• This verification process is specifically triggered when YouTube's AI system incorrectly identifies users as being under 18 years old ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}
• The system is part of YouTube's response to global online safety laws that require platforms to protect minors ^[5]
• This is a new testing phase of YouTube's age verification system, not a universal requirement for all users ^[1]

Alternative perspectives on this system include:

• Privacy advocates would likely express concerns about requiring government IDs and selfies for platform access
• Parents and child safety organizations would benefit from stricter age verification as it helps protect minors from inappropriate content
• YouTube/Google benefits by demonstrating compliance with emerging regulations while maintaining user engagement

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation, as it simply asks for factual information about accepted documents. However, the question lacks crucial context that could lead to misunderstanding:

• The question implies that ID verification is a general YouTube requirement, when it's actually only triggered when the AI system incorrectly flags users as minors ^{[1] [2]}
• Without context, users might assume this applies to all YouTube users, when it's currently in a testing phase and only affects users who are misidentified by the age estimation system ^[1]
• The question doesn't mention that this is part of YouTube's broader effort to comply with online safety regulations, which provides important context for why these requirements exist ^[5]