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• You can change your age on YouTube if you previously entered an incorrect birthdate, or if you have your parents' permission to access restricted content. 
• You would change your age on YouTube by changing the age on your Google account, as both are connected and will update simultaneously.  
• Some YouTube content is restricted to viewers 18 and older, while YouTube's stated policy is that children under 13 should not use the site at all, especially not to upload content.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

No one under the age of 13 is supposed to be on YouTube. In fact, there is a secondary app — YouTube Kids — designed with content specifically for children under 13. 

However, it's not very difficult to get around these age restrictions, and YouTube seems to know this, as it has recently got in trouble with the Federal Trade Commission for violating child privacy laws. Google, YouTube's parent company, had to pay a $170 million settlement for illegally collecting the data of children under 13. 

In addition, some mature content on YouTube is restricted to viewers aged 18 and older. If you don't meet the age requirements for certain videos — depending on the birthdate you entered in your YouTube profile — you won't be able to watch those videos on your account. 

If you want to change your age on YouTube, ideally you have your parent's permission to access mature content. Or perhaps you just want to fix a birthdate you had incorrectly entered. 

Whatever your reasons, the process is pretty simple, and it involves your Google account as much as your YouTube profile.

How to change your age on YouTube 

1. Once logged into your account, click your image or avatar at the top right corner of the YouTube homepage.

2. Click "Manage your Google Account" on the dropdown menu that appears.

Click "Manage your Google Account" to update your settings. Steven John/Business Insider

3. Click the blue text reading "Personal info" on the left-hand column of the next page.

Go to the Personal info tab. Steven John/Business Insider

4. Click the arrow beside your birthday.

5. Click the pencil icon to edit your birthday.

Edit your birthday with the pencil icon. Steven John/Business Insider

6. Enter your new birthdate, then hit "UPDATE."

Now log out of YouTube, and when you sign back in, your new age will be there.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to block YouTube channels to keep certain users from commenting on your videos

• How to report a YouTube channel anonymously if you believe it's violating YouTube's community guidelines

• 'Who blocked me on Instagram?': How to figure out if you've been blocked, and by whom

• How to temporarily hide or permanently delete your YouTube account, and erase any trace of yourself from the site

Steven John Freelance Writer Steven John is a freelance writer living near New York City by way of 12 years in Los Angeles, four in Boston, and the first 18 near DC. When not writing or spending time with his wife and kids, he can occasionally be found climbing mountains. His writing is spread across the web, and his books can be found at www.stevenjohnbooks.com. Read more Read less

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