Google restricts ad targeting of under-18s

FILE PHOTO: A logo is seen on the New York Google offices after they announced they will postpone their reopening in response to updated CDC guidelines during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., July 29, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

(Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's Google is blocking ad targeting based on the age, gender or interests of people under 18, the company said on Tuesday.

It also said it would turn off its "location history" feature, which tracks location data, for users under 18 globally. It will further expand the types of age-sensitive ad categories that are blocked for users up to 18 and will turn on safe searching filters for users up to that age.