It’s good news for YouTube creators; a recent drop in the number of their videos that can be monetized has caused some to abandon the platform. And the ability to be more creative with their language makes the channel more attractive for content producers.
Tuesday’s announcement follows new policies from YouTube banning dangerous pranks and hate speech, as well as measures to better enforce child safety. The video-sharing service also recently introduced a $9.99 monthly subscription for ad-free access to YouTube Originals.
In an effort to address grievances from content creators and to keep up with regulations on profanity, YouTube has relaxed its stance in regard to certain swears and foul language, allowing content with “moderate” expletives to collect ad revenue. This comes as a relief to passionate, expressive channels that might have otherwise seen their videos demonetized in the past.
Previously, all swear words, whether they be “shit” or an f-bomb, were lumped together in the same category and any included in the first seven seconds of a video could result in revoking their ability to monetize.
Now, YouTube has adjusted their regulations after reviewing enforcement data and seeing this strict approach may not have been in the content producers’ best interest. Conor Kavanagh, the platform’s Monetization policy lead, explains that words like ‘bitch’, ‘douchebag’, ‘asshole’, and ‘shit’ won’t get your video demonetized. Additionally, when included in prerecorded music or standup video content, profanity isn’t likely to have an issue.
Using censored words, mild oaths like “hell” or “damn” in thumbnails, titles, or videos won’t pose an issue, however, the word “fuck” is still considered unfriendly to advertisers. Videos flagged with demonitization stickers will be re-reviewed this week in light of the new policy change.
As expected, YouTube is making it clear that hateful and derogatory language is still not allowed on their site, as it is not suitable for advertising.
Making sure that the content shared on YouTube is conducive to an inclusive environment and abiding by the rules and regulations are key factors the platform wishes to maintain. By laying down a clear policy on profanity, YouTube is staying true to their values and pushing towards a safer, more supportive community for their viewers and creators.
Are you a content creator on YouTube? What do you think of the new profanity policy? Let us know in the comments below.
