YouTube Updates Profanity Guidelines & Deploys AI to Identify Teen User.

Key Takeaway.

• YouTube relaxes profanity rules, allowing limited strong language in monetized videos.
• New AI tech will detect teen users and auto-enable safety features starting August 13, 2025.

YouTube has announced a dual rollout: updated profanity rules for creators under its Advertiser-Friendly Guidelines, alongside AI-powered age estimation technology to identify teen viewers and automatically enforce protections.

Looser Profanity Rules for Ad Monetization.

YouTube is loosening its stance on strong language in monetized videos. Under the revised guidelines, profanity include stronger language such as the f-word may still be eligible for ad revenue, depending on placement and frequency. This offers creators more flexibility, particularly when language is used for artistic or expressive purposes.

While still discouraged early in a video, profanity beyond the first 7 seconds may no longer automatically disqualify a video from monetization. This shift reflects YouTube’s increasingly nuanced approach to content that balances realistic dialogue with advertiser comfort.

AI-Driven Teen Identification & Automatic Safeguards.

Simultaneously, YouTube is implementing an AI age estimation system in the U.S., set to begin rolling out on August 13, 2025, to automatically detect users under 18—even if they misreport their birthdate. 

If the AI flags an account as underage, YouTube will activate existing protections for teens:

• Disabling personalized ads
• Enabling digital well-being tools: screen time reminders, bedtime alerts
• Restricting repeated exposure to sensitive or body-image content
• Blocking age-restricted videos unless the user verifies they are over 18 

Users mistakenly identified as teens can still contest the decision by verifying their age through government-issued ID, credit card, or selfie.

YouTube says it will initially test the system with a small group in the U.S. before a broader rollout, and closely monitor its performance.

Important Update for Creators.

These two updates together mark a shift in YouTube's efforts to balance creator freedom with safety and brand trust:

The relaxed profanity policy offers creators more flexibility while maintaining advertiser-friendly standards.

AI-based teen detection enables broader enforcement of protections without relying on user honesty or manual reporting.

Creators, especially those targeting younger audiences or using strong language, should understand these changes. Teen users are now subject to stricter content delivery protections regardless of what age they enter during sign-up.

Google Photos Perspective Correction Tool Goes Missing for Many Users.

Key Takeaway.

• Google Photos removes the perspective correction tool.
• Users report missing feature with no official response.

Recently, Google Photos has removed its long-standing perspective correction (crop/keystone) tool, frustrating photographers and everyday users who relied on it for straightening skewed shots and emulating scans. Reports across Reddit and Google’s own support forums confirm that the option has disappeared in recent app versions.

This feature was embedded within the Crop editing tools was appreciated for correcting angular distortions in photos of documents, artwork, or real estate. Though not the most widely used, its removal is sparking surprise and complaints.

The vanished function was once easily accessible as a skew-adjustment overlay in Google Photos’ Crop tool. Now, affected users—across Android and the web interface—report the feature is simply gone from editing menus. 

The change seems to have appeared abruptly, likely tied to a recent app update that removed the tool without warning. Notably, it's still visible in older app versions like Google Photos v7.38, suggesting this is targeted in newer releases. 

Community reactions echo frustration: Reddit users on r/GooglePixel chimed in with comments like:

“I used it a lot to correct the perspective of photos I took too fast … Keystone correction is missing from the Crop tools.”

“At least a few times per week. ... I’m especially bummed that it's gone.” 

Some speculate the tool was removed due to low usage, or that user metrics excluded power users who disabled anonymous data sharing.

While the functionality is still accessible via alternative apps such as Snapseed or Google Drive’s document scanner but these are not ideal substitutes for seamless in‑Photos editing.

Affected users can try downgrading the Photos app or uninstalling and reinstalling via the Play Store to revert to an older build. However, this is a temporary fix and may become unavailable as Google continues updating the app.

As of now, Google has not officially addressed whether the removal is intentional, a bug, or part of a broader redesign. With the Pixel 10 launch drawing attention, some community members feel the timing suggests lower-priority users are being overlooked.

Google Messages Gets Full‑Screen “Details” Page.

Key Takeaway.

• Google Messages has replaced the old pop-up with a full-screen message details view for better readability.
• New visual icons now clearly indicate if a message is sent, delivered, or read.

The Google Messages app is receiving a significant UI enhancement to its message details page, switching from cramped pop-ups to a striking full‑screen redesign based on Material 3's Expressive layout elements.

Previously, long‑pressing a message and opening “View details” showed a small dialog overlaying part of the chat. Now, users see a clean full‑screen view that previews the selected message along with delivery metadata like sent, delivered, and read status. These indicators use new visual cues: a checkmark circle means sent, two checkmarks mean delivered, and a filled‑in circle after two checkmarks means read.

The new “Details” page also displays the sender’s name and phone number—but omits fields like message type (e.g. RCS with end‑to‑end encryption) and priority levels. This marks the first time Google Messages uses M3 Expressive containers, setting the stage for more such UI upgrades across the app.

What is Included in the Design Upgrade?

The redesign is rolling out broadly, including on both stable (build 20250713_01_RC04) and beta (20250725_02_RC00) versions of Google Messages. While full redesigns for Android phones are still in beta, Wear OS versions already display M3 Expressive styling, with tinted buttons, sleek bubbles, and refreshed icons.

Earlier this month, Google began blending camera and gallery access into a unified interface and now supports sending media in two quality levels: HD for optimized sharing and HD+ for original quality. The revamped message field limit now spans up to 14 lines, up from just four.

These UI refinements coincide with broader messaging improvements like group chat customization, spam and sensitive content warnings, and better support for RCS and MLS encryption across platforms.

Why Google Messages Update Matters?

This update enhances both usability and presentation: no more cropping screenshots to hide irrelevant chat content, and the full‑screen preview delivers visual clarity. “View details” is now a functional hub, not just a modal box.

By adopting Material 3 Expressive design, Google is unifying the look and feel of Messages across devices, offering users a consistent experience whether on Android or Wear OS. Enhanced status indicators and clearer UX also improve message tracking and reliability.

Looking ahead, expect Google to extend M3 Expressive styling to other areas of the app—potentially conversation view, media viewer, and group settings. Additional message details like encryption status and priority labels may also be included. If you're using the beta or stable version cited above, look for updates via the Play Store.

Google’s NotebookLM Introduces AI‑Powered Video Overviews.

Google is rolling out significant upgrades to NotebookLM, expanding its AI-powered research tool with a new Video Overviews format and a revamped Studio panel for enhanced content creation and multitasking.

The newly launched Video Overviews feature transforms dense information into narrated slideshow-style presentations. These AI-generated visuals integrate diagrams, quotes, data points, and images extracted directly from user-uploaded documents, making complex ideas more intuitive to understand. Users can tailor the output by specifying learning goals, audience, and specific segments to focus on, such as chapter-specific content or expert-level theories.

Video Overviews act as a visual counterpart to NotebookLM’s existing Audio Overviews and are now available to all English-language users, with additional languages and styles expected in upcoming updates.

Studio Panel Upgrades: Smarter Creation & Multi‑Output Workflows

NotebookLM’s Studio panel is also receiving a major upgrade. Users can now create and store multiple versions of the same output type (e.g., several Audio Overviews or Video Overviews) within a single notebook. This flexibility supports various use cases:

• Publish content in multiple languages or perspectives.
• Tailor outputs for different roles or audiences (e.g., student vs. manager).
• Segment study material by chapters or modules using separate overview videos or guides.

The updated Studio interface introduces a clean layout featuring four tiles—Audio Overview, Video Overview, Mind Map, and Report—for quick access. All generated content is indexed below the tiles, and users can multitask—for instance, listening to an Audio Overview while exploring a Mind Map or reviewing a Study Guide.

NotebookLM, first launched in July 2023 and powered by Google’s Gemini AI, is also known for its Audio Overviews, which present document insights in conversational, podcast-style formats.

These new Video Overviews bring a visual dimension, essential for explaining data, workflows, diagrams, and abstract ideas more effectively.

According to internal disclosures, Google introduced Audio Overviews across more than 80 languages earlier this year, which doubled daily audio usage and significantly expanded user engagement. User feedback has driven numerous updates, including enhanced customization, in-app feedback tools, community-driven enhancements, and broader accessibility.

These additions cap a series of recent improvements, like “Featured Notebooks” (curated content from partners such as The Atlantic and The Economist) and automatic source discovery.

Google Pixel Phones Get Major GPU Boost with GameHub Support.

Key Takeaway.

• Pixel phones now support GameHub with improved Mali GPU performance.
• Google’s updates boost GPU power by up to 60%, improving gaming and graphics.

GameSir, the company behind the GameHub PC game emulation platform, has confirmed that its latest update now supports Mali GPUs, including those used in Google Pixel devices. This support brings better performance in game emulation, especially for high-end titles, even though the feature was originally aimed at MediaTek-powered phones.

At the same time, Google's own updates to Pixel phones have quietly delivered a huge leap in GPU performance. Benchmarks show a boost of up to 60% on some Pixel models, including the Pixel 7a, Pixel 6a, and Pixel 8.

GameHub Now Enhances Pixel Gaming.

GameSir’s GameHub app allows Android phones to emulate PC games, and it now runs better on Pixel devices. According to the company, the new update optimizes Mali GPU performance using MediaTek’s GPU driver enhancements, and this extends to Pixel phones that use the same GPU family. Although no Pixel model uses a MediaTek chip, they still use Mali GPUs built into Google’s custom Tensor processors, which benefit from these changes.

With this update, Pixel users can expect smoother gameplay, better frame rates, and improved emulation experiences in demanding games.

Pixel Phones Quietly Get Driver-Based Performance Boost.

In addition to GameHub support, Google has been pushing GPU driver updates that dramatically improve performance. For example:

• Pixel 7a: ~62% improvement in GPU benchmark scores
• Pixel 8: ~32% increase
• Pixel 6a: ~23% boost

These improvements were delivered via software updates, not hardware changes, showing how powerful optimization can be. Users have reported noticeable improvements in real-world games like Fortnite and Genshin Impact, where higher frame rates and more stable gameplay are being observed.

However, it’s worth noting that future Pixel models like the rumored Pixel 10 may use a different GPU (from Imagination), which may not benefit from these changes.

Chromebooks Get Closer to Linux with New Terminal Feature for Graphical Apps.

Key Takeaway.

• Google is testing a new glaunch command that lets Chromebook users start graphical Linux apps directly from the Terminal.
• This feature simplifies the Linux app experience on ChromeOS and could become a game-changer for developers and power users.

Google is quietly testing a powerful update for ChromeOS that could reshape how developers and Linux enthusiasts use Chromebooks. A new terminal command, glaunch, is being introduced to let users run graphical Linux applications directly from the Linux Terminal, marking a big step forward for Crostini, the built-in Linux environment on ChromeOS.

What’s New with glaunch?

Until now, using Linux apps on ChromeOS required navigating through app drawers or setting up complex launch commands. With glaunch, users can start Linux-based graphical apps like GIMP or Inkscape directly from the Terminal, making the experience faster and more intuitive.

For example, typing glaunch gimp in the Terminal would launch GIMP with its full graphical user interface, just as if you opened it from the system menu. This is especially useful for developers, creators, and power users who rely heavily on Terminal workflows.

How to Use It (Step-by-Step Guide)

Here’s how to test the new feature if you’re on a supported Chromebook:

Step 1: Enable the Linux Environment

• Go to Settings > Developers > Turn on Linux development environment.
• Follow the prompts to install Crostini.

Step 2: Install a Graphical Linux App

Open Terminal and update packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Install a GUI app like GIMP:

sudo apt install gimp

Step 3: Launch the App Using glaunch.

glaunch gimp

If your app supports a GUI and you have the right permissions, the application should open immediately.

This feature is particularly valuable for developers who often test open-source Linux apps, educators using scientific software, and students learning code or design. It lowers the entry barrier for using full-fledged Linux programs within the lightweight Chromebook ecosystem.

Currently, glaunch is only available in the Canary channel of ChromeOS, which is reserved for experimental features. There’s no official timeline for its stable release, but its appearance suggests it may soon be part of ChromeOS’s mainstream Linux experience.

Google Workspace Account Security with Passkeys and Device-Bound Credentials.

Credit: Google

Key Takeaway.

• DBSC binds session cookies to the user’s device, making stolen cookies unusable on other devices, even if credentials are compromised.
• Google recommends enabling DBSC with passkeys and context-aware access to safeguard enterprise accounts from phishing and cookie-based attacks.

Google Workspace has introduced a new security layer called Device Bound Session Credentials (DBSC) to help prevent attackers from hijacking accounts using stolen session cookies. The feature is now available in beta for Chrome users on Windows and is part of Google’s effort to strengthen enterprise account security.

How DBSC Enhances Session Security.

DBSC ties session cookies to the specific device used during authentication. When a user logs in, Chrome generates a unique public/private key pair—ideally stored in a Trusted Platform Module (TPM)—and binds the session cookie to this key. This means that stolen cookies cannot be reused from another device, significantly reducing the risk of remote account takeovers.

Google says this approach helps block malware-based attacks that steal session tokens after login, including those that bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA). By binding sessions to devices, attackers lose the value of exfiltrated cookies unless they have full access to the original hardware.

Session cookie theft has become a major threat, especially when targeted at enterprise users or high-profile accounts. Attackers use malware, malicious browser extensions, or man-in-the-middle phishing tools to capture authentication tokens, then reuse them to access services like Gmail, Google Drive, or Microsoft 365 without needing passwords or MFA codes.

By rolling out DBSC, Google is responding to a surge in token theft attacks observed in 2025. The feature aims to reduce account compromise even when login credentials are stolen.

How to Enable and What It Requires.

Workspace administrators can enable DBSC for their organization through Chrome policies or settings. The feature is currently supported on Chrome for Windows operating systems where TPM capabilities are available. Google also recommends combining DBSC with passkeys and context-aware access (CAA) to further reinforce its effect.

As Google rolls out broader support for DBSC, identity platforms like Okta and other browsers, including Microsoft Edge, have expressed interest in participating. Google is also working on open web standards to promote widespread adoption.

Looking Ahead

DBSC represents a shift in how session security is managed. Traditional cookie-based authentication, even when hardened with MFA, remains vulnerable if cookie theft occurs after login. With DBSC, even if attackers steal authentication tokens, they cannot exploit them from another device.

Google plans to extend DBSC to more platforms in the future and advance threat detection via its Shared Signals Framework (SSF), allowing security tools and identity providers to share risk signals in near-real time.