YOUTUBE COMMUNITY GUIDELINES
YOUTUBE COMMUNITY GUIDELINES
YouTube has always had a set of Community Guidelines that outline what
type of content isn't allowed on YouTube. These policies apply to all types of
content on our platform, including videos, comments, links and thumbnails.
Our Community Guidelines are a key part of our broader suite of
policies and are regularly evaluated in consultation with outside experts and
YouTube creators to keep pace with emerging challenges.
Our policies aim to make YouTube a safer community while still giving
creators the freedom to share a broad range of experiences and
perspectives.
Fake engagement
Impersonation
External links
Playlists
Additional policies
Sensitive content
Child safety
Thumbnails
Vulgar language
Policies overview
Viewers and creators around the world use YouTube to express their ideas
and opinions freely, and we believe that a broad range of perspectives
ultimately makes us a stronger and more informed society, even if we
disagree with some of those views. That's why we have policies to help build
a safer community.
Copyright
Creators should only upload videos that they have made or that they're
authorised to use. That means that they should not upload videos that they
didn't make, or use content in their videos that someone else owns the
copyright to, such as music tracks, snippets of copyrighted programmes or
videos made by other users, without necessary authorisations.
In the US, the most widely known copyright exception is fair use. When
deciding whether a use is fair, courts look at four factors: the purpose and
character of the use,
the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount and substantiality of the
portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole, and the effect
of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.
Some activities that may qualify as fair use include criticism, commentary
and news reporting. Fair use aims to promote freedom of expression.
In some civil law countries, including many in the EU, more limited
exceptions arerecognised where the reuse must fall within specific
categories, instead of having factors that are weighed. The categories set out
in Article 17 of the EU Digital Single Market copyright directive are
quotation, criticism, review, caricature, parody and pastiche. These words
have their usual meaning in everyday language, but are also enacted into
law by each member state and interpreted by both national courts and the
Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). It is also important to
consider the context of the use, and the purpose of such copyright
exceptions, one of which is to balance creators' freedom of expression, and
rightsholders' copyright.
At YouTube, our mission is to give everyone a voice and show them the
world. Copyright exceptions play a key role in furthering this mission by
supporting the free flow of ideas and creativity. Therefore, we ask
rightsholders to consider the applicability of copyright exceptions before
they submit copyright removal requests.
ries, including for quotation, and news reporting. We believe that this would
strike a balance between respecting the copyright of rightsholders, and
creators' freedom of expression that may be protected by copyright
exceptions.
Shorts, you can create short videos sampling someone else's content ,
provided that they have given you permission to do so. We're also
continuing to build and expand Creator Music, which lets creators in the
YouTube Partner programme safely use commercial music by licensing tracks
or sharing their video revenue with music rights holders.
Fair use is a legal doctrine that says use of copyright-protected material under
certain circumstances is allowed without permission from the copyright holder.
YouTube gets many requests to remove videos that copyright holders claim are
infringing under copyright law. Sometimes these requests apply to videos that
qualify for copyright exceptions or seem like clear examples of fair use.
Courts have decided that copyright holders must consider whether copyright
exceptions apply before they submit a copyright removal request.
While international rules about copyright exceptions are often similar, they can
differ. Different countries and regions may have different rules about when it's
OK to use copyright-protected material without the copyright holder’s
permission.
Keep in mind that we take local rules into consideration when responding to
copyright removal requests. You can view the YouTube Copyright Transparency
Report for more info on how we respond to copyright removal requests,
including how often we request additional explanations from copyright holders
who claim a video doesn't qualify for a copyright exception.
Ultimately, courts decide fair use cases according to the facts of each unique
case. You’ll probably want to get legal advice from an expert before uploading
videos that use copyright-protected material.
In the United States, judges decide what’s considered fair use. A judge will
consider how the four factors of fair use apply to each specific case. The four
factors of fair use are:
1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of
commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes
3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used relative to the whole
copyrighted work
4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the
copyrighted work
by rebelliouspixels
This remix combines short excerpts from different source materials. The
remixes create a new message about the effect of provocative rhetoric in
times of economic crisis. Works that create new meaning for the source
material may be considered fair use.
In rare cases, we’ve asked YouTube creators to join an initiative that protects
some examples of “fair use” on YouTube from copyright removal requests.
Through this initiative, YouTube indemnifies creators whose fair use videos
have been subject to removal requests for up to $1 million of legal costs in the
event the removal results in a copyright infringement lawsuit.
The goal of this initiative is to make sure these creators have a chance to
protect their work. It also aims to improve the creative world by educating on
both the importance and limits of fair use. Because of the variation in the rules
governing such uses by different countries/regions, as described above, we're
only able to offer this initiative to creators living in the United States who
agree to have their videos are only available in the United States.
You may be aware of some notable cases where we’ve asked copyright holders
to reconsider removal requests and reinstate fair use videos. For example:
This video by the Young Turks, which shows short clips from a heavily
criticized commercial as part of a conversation on why it offended
viewers.
This video by Secular Talk, which criticizes a political figure for endorsing
an unproven treatment for diabetes.
Buffy vs Edward: Twilight Remixed -- [original version] , a remix video
that compares the ways women are portrayed in two vampire-related
works targeted at teens.
"No Offense", a video uploaded by the National Organization for
Marriage, which uses a clip of a celebrity as an example of rude
behavior.
More info
If you’d like to learn more about fair use, there are many resources available
online. The following sites are for educational purposes only and aren't
endorsed by YouTube:
Center for Media and Social Impact’s “Code of Best Practices in Fair Use
for Online Video”
Digital Media Law Project's detailed explanation of the Four Factors
US Copyright Office’s fair use index
Creative Commons
Creative Commons licenses give a standard way for content creators to grant
someone else permission to use their work. YouTube allows creators to mark
their videos with a Creative Commons CC BY license.
If you've marked your video with a CC BY license, you retain your copyright.
Other creators get to reuse your work subject to the terms of the license.
You can only mark your uploaded video with a Creative Commons license if it's
all content that you can license under the CC BY license. Some examples of
such licensable content are:
These features are only available to partners who use YouTube Studio Content
Manager.
When you’re watching a video that contains music, there may be a section in
the video’s description called “Music in this video.” This section shows info
about the music heard in the video, like song and artist names.
“Music in this video” may show links to music videos or other official content
so you can discover songs and artists you haven’t heard before.
Subscribe to the YouTube Viewers channel for the latest news, updates, and
tips.
FAQs
What if I hear my song in a video, but don’t see “Music in this video” info?
Monetisation policies
Over the last few years, YouTube has taken steps to strengthen the
requirements for monetisation so that spammers, impersonators and other
bad actors can't hurt the ecosystem or take advantage of good creators
producing high-quality content.
Resources
Learn more about how data helps creators track their performance on
YouTube
We’re expanding the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) to more creators with
earlier access to fan funding and shopping features. This expansion is rolling
out over the next month to creators in Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, the
United Kingdom, and the United States. If you’re in one of these
countries/regions, check out this article to learn more about the changes
coming to YPP.
The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) gives creators greater access to YouTube
resources and monetization features, and access to our Creator Support teams.
It also allows revenue sharing from ads being served on your content. Learn
more about the features, eligibility criteria, and application details in this
article.
Want to apply to YPP, but need help building an audience first? Check out
our tips to establish your fanbase, and our tips for the YouTube Partner
Program.
Once you understand what you need to join, your channel can become eligible
for YPP with either Shorts or long-form video. If you’d like us to notify you
when you’re eligible, click Notify me when I’m eligible in the Earn area of
YouTube Studio. You’ll get an email once you’ve met either of the below
eligibility thresholds.
1. Get 1,000 subscribers with 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12
months, or
2. Get 1,000 subscribers with 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90
days.
Keep in mind that any public watch hours from Shorts views in the Shorts Feed
won’t count towards the 4,000 public watch hours threshold.
These thresholds help us make a more informed decision about whether your
channel meets our policies and guidelines. Once you apply, your channel will
go through a standard review process to see whether your channel meets our
policies and guidelines. If it meets our policies and guidelines, we’ll accept your
channel into YPP. Keep in mind we continuously check channels in YPP to make
sure they continue to meet our policies and guidelines over time.
Where to apply
Once you have what you need and your channel is eligible to apply, sign up for
YPP from either a desktop computer or a mobile device:
1. Sign in to YouTube
2. In the top right, click your profile picture YouTube Studio
3. In the left menu, click Earn
4. Select Apply to get started
5. Click Start to review and Accept Base terms
6. Click Start to set up an AdSense account, or link an existing active one
Once done, you’ll see In Progress in the Get Reviewed step, which means we
have your application!
Once you accept YPP terms and link an active AdSense account, your channel
will automatically be put in a review queue. Our automated systems and
human reviewers will review your channel as a whole to make sure your
channel follows all of our policies and guidelines. Check back in
the Earn section of YouTube Studio anytime to see the status of your
application.
We’ll get back to you with a decision once your channel is reviewed (typically
in about 1 month).
If your first application wasn’t successful, don’t worry - you can appeal the
decision within 21 days or keep uploading original content and you’ll be able to
re-apply after a 30-day period. If this isn’t your first application to be rejected,
or you’ve previously re-applied, you can try again after a 90-day period. Our
reviewers likely found that a significant portion of your channel doesn’t
currently follow our policies and guidelines, so be sure to review those against
your channel’s overall content and adjust your channel before re-applying.
Learn more about steps you can take to strengthen your application for next
time.
Once you’re in YPP, get started in YouTube Studio with Watch Page Ads, Shorts
Feed Ads, Memberships, Supers, Shopping, and more. To turn on monetization
features, you’ll need to review and accept the relevant module terms. Learn
more about the modules and their options here.
After choosing how you want to monetize, you’ll be able to manage ad
preferences, turn on monetization for your uploads, and more. Here’s a list of
FAQs that we get from creators who have just joined YPP.
Getting paid
What do “valid public watch hours” and "valid public Shorts views" mean?
March 10, 2022: Given the recent suspension of Google advertising systems in
Russia, we’ll be pausing the creation of new Russian accounts on AdSense,
AdMob and Google Ad Manager. Additionally, we will pause ads on Google
properties and networks globally for advertisers based in Russia. As a result,
creators in Russia won’t be able to complete new YPP sign-ups at this time.
February 25, 2022: In light of the war in Ukraine, we are pausing YouTube’s
monetization of Russian Federation state-funded media channels.
Updated June 2023: This policy has been updated to reflect updates on
expanded YouTube Partner Program monetization features (fan funding), as
well as to clarify revenue enforcement details for terminated or suspended
channels.
These policies apply to anyone in, or looking to apply to, the YouTube Partner
Program. The YouTube Shorts monetization policies also apply if you’re
monetizing Shorts on YouTube.
All content monetizing with ads must follow our advertiser-friendly content
guidelines. To earn revenue from fan funding features, first time users must
accept the Commerce Product Module (CPM) before turning on the individual
features. You must also follow the Commerce Products monetization
policies when monetizing with fan funding features.
Here’s a quick overview of each major policy. Make sure you read each policy
thoroughly, as these policies are used to check if a channel is suitable to
monetize. Our reviewers regularly check to see whether monetizing channels
follow these policies. Learn more about how we enforce our policies.
Keep in mind that when we use the term video on this page, it refers to Shorts,
long-form videos, and live streaming. These policies apply wherever videos are
viewed including the Watch Page (pages within YouTube, YouTube Music, or
YouTube Kids), the YouTube Video Player (player that embeds YouTube
content on other sites), and the YouTube Shorts Player (player that makes
Shorts available).
Main theme
Most viewed videos
Newest videos
Biggest proportion of watch time
Video metadata (including titles, thumbnails, and descriptions)
The above are just examples of content our reviewers may assess. Note that
our reviewers can, and may check other parts of your channel to see whether
it fully meets our policies.
If you're in the YouTube Partner Program, you can get access to our Creator
Support team.
Whether you're facing a specific problem or you want to find out how to get
the most out of YouTube as a creator, we're here to help you:
You can find more detailed instructions to contact Creator Support and how
to get help as a YouTube Creator.
Legal removals
While our Community Guidelines are policies that apply wherever you are in
the world, YouTube is launched in more than 100 different countries - so we
also have processes in place to review and appropriately act on valid legal
requests based in applicable local laws.
Resources
Overview
After providing us with reference files, Content ID and Copyright Match Tool
users are automatically notified of user-uploaded videos that may contain
their creative work. Additionally, Content ID users can choose in advance
what they want to happen when those videos are detected. Thanks to the
different options that Content ID gives copyright owners, it's not just an
anti-piracy solution, but also a revenue-generation tool. YouTube has paid
more than $5.5 billion to rightsholders from ad revenue alone, from content
that they've claimed and monetised through Content ID.
How does YouTube prevent content piracy on the platform?
Overview
After providing us with reference files, Content ID and Copyright Match Tool
users are automatically notified of user-uploaded videos that may contain
their creative work. Additionally, Content ID users can choose in advance
what they want to happen when those videos are detected. Thanks to the
different options that Content ID gives copyright owners, it's not just an
anti-piracy solution, but also a revenue-generation tool. YouTube has paid
more than $5.5 billion to rightsholders from ad revenue alone, from content
that they've claimed and monetised through Content ID.
Removal reason
Detection source
Removal by views
YouTube relies on teams around the world to review flagged videos and
remove content that violates Community Guidelines; restrict videos (e.g.
age-restrict content that may not be appropriate for all audiences); or leave
the content live when it doesn't violate our guidelines.
This exhibit shows the volume of videos removed by YouTube by the reason
why a video was removed. These removal reasons correspond to
YouTube's Community Guidelines . Reviewers evaluate flagged videos
against all of our Community Guidelines and policies, regardless of why the
video was originally flagged.
0.1% 7K - Other
YouTube strives to prevent content that breaks our rules from being widely
viewed – or viewed at all – before it's removed. Automated flagging enables
us to act more quickly and accurately to enforce our policies. This chart
shows the percentage of video removals that occurred before they received
any views versus those that occurred after receiving some views.
37.9% 0 views
The safety of our creators, viewers, and partners is our highest priority. We
look to each of you to help us protect this unique and vibrant community. It’s
important you understand our Community Guidelines, and the role they play in
our shared responsibility to keep YouTube safe. Take the time to carefully
read the policy below. You can also check out this page for a full list of our
guidelines.
YouTube doesn’t allow anything that artificially increases the number of views,
likes, comments, or other metrics either by using automatic systems or serving
up videos to unsuspecting viewers. Also, content that solely exists to
incentivize viewers for engagement (views, likes, comments, etc) is prohibited.
Content and channels that don't follow this policy may be terminated and
removed from YouTube.
Important: If you hire someone to promote your channel, their decisions may
impact your channel. Any method that violates our policies may result in
content removal or a channel takedown, whether it's an action taken by you or
someone you've hired.
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. Instructions for reporting
violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you've found a
few videos or comments that you would like to report, you can report the
channel.
What this policy means for you
Don’t post content on YouTube if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.
This policy applies to videos, video descriptions, comments, live streams, and
any other YouTube product or feature. Keep in mind that this isn't a complete
list.
Examples
Remember these are just some examples, and don't post content if you think it
might violate this policy.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
Impersonation policy
The safety of our creators, viewers, and partners is our highest priority. We
look to each of you to help us protect this unique and vibrant community. It’s
important you understand our Community Guidelines, and the role they play in
our shared responsibility to keep YouTube safe. Take the time to carefully
read the policy below. You can also check out this page for a full list of our
guidelines.
If you operate a fan channel, make sure you state so explicitly in your channel
name or handle. It should be obvious to your viewers that your channel
doesn't represent the original creator, artist or entity your channel is
celebrating.
Examples
Channels with the same identifier (channel name or handle) and image
as another channel, with the only difference being a space inserted into
the name or a zero replacing the letter O.
Using someone else's real name, user name, image, brand, logo, or other
personal information to trick people into believing you are that person.
Setting up a channel using the same identifier (channel name or handle)
and image of a person, and then pretending that person is posting
content to the channel.
Setting up a channel using the name and image of a person, and then
posting comments on other channels as if they were posted by the
person.
Channels claiming to be a 'fan account' in the channel description, but
not stating so clearly in the channel name or handle, or posing as
another’s channel and reuploading their content.
Channels impersonating an existing news channel.
Remember these are just some examples, and don't post content if you think it
might violate this policy.
If your content violates this policy, we may terminate your channel or account.
Learn more about channel or account terminations.
Give feedback about this article
The safety of our creators, viewers, and partners is our highest priority. We
look to each of you to help us protect this unique and vibrant community. It’s
important you understand our Community Guidelines, and the role they play in
our shared responsibility to keep YouTube safe. Take the time to carefully
read the policy below. You can also check out this page for a full list of our
guidelines.
Links that send users to content that violates our Community Guidelines are
not allowed on YouTube. If you find content that violates this policy, report
it. Note: Certain links may not be clickable. Learn more here.
Don’t post links in your content on YouTube if they direct users to content that
violates our Community Guidelines. This policy includes links that fit any of the
descriptions noted below. Please note this is not a complete list.
Links to pornography
Links to websites or apps that install malware
Links to websites or apps phishing for a user’s sign in info, financial info,
etc.
Links to websites, apps, or other sources that give unauthorized access
to audio content, audiovisual content, video games, software, or
streaming services that normally require payment
Links to websites that seek to raise funds or recruit for terrorist
organizations
Links to sites containing Child Sexual Abuse Imagery (CSAI)
Links to sites selling items noted in our regulated goods guidelines
Links to content that would violate our hate or harassment policies
Links to content encouraging others to commit violent acts
Links to content that spread medical misinformation contradicting local
health authorities’ (LHA) or the World Health Organization’s (WHO)
medical info about COVID-19
Links to websites or apps that spread misleading or deceptive content
that can cause serious risk of egregious harm, such as interfering with
democratic processes
This policy applies to video, audio, channel, comments, pinned comments, live
streams, and any other YouTube product or feature. Links can take any form
that would direct a user to a site off YouTube. These links include: clickable
urls, showing text of urls in videos or images, and obfuscated urls (such as
writing “dot com” instead of “.com”). These links can also include verbally
directing users to other sites or encouraging viewers to visit creator profiles or
pages on other sites. This list is not complete.
Examples
Remember that this list is not complete. If you think content might violate this
policy, don’t post it.
If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an
email to let you know. If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may
remove the link.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
The safety of our creators, viewers, and partners is our highest priority. We
look to each of you to help us protect this unique and vibrant community. It’s
important you understand our Community Guidelines, and the role they play in
our shared responsibility to keep YouTube safe. Take the time to carefully
read the policy below. You can also check out this page for a full list of our
guidelines.
Note: We recently reorganized our Community Guidelines to provide further
clarity around our policies related to Misinformation on YouTube. To review
these policies, check out our articles on Misinformation and Elections
misinformation.
YouTube doesn’t allow spam, scams, or other deceptive practices that take
advantage of the YouTube community. We also don’t allow content where the
main purpose is to trick others into leaving YouTube for another site.
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. Instructions for reporting
violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you've found a
few videos or comments that you would like to report, you can report the
channel.
Don’t post content on YouTube if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.
This policy applies to videos, video descriptions, comments, live streams, and
any other YouTube product or feature. Keep in mind that this isn't a complete
list. Please note these policies also apply to external links in your content. This
can include clickable URLs, verbally directing users to other sites in video, as
well as other forms.
Note: You're allowed to encourage viewers to subscribe, hit the like button,
share, or leave a comment.
Video Spam
Scams
Incentivization Spam
Comments Spam
Remember these are just some examples, and don't post content if you think it
might violate this policy.
For some violations, we may remove the content and issue a warning or a
strike against your channel. If this happens, we’ll send you an email to let you
know. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be terminated.
Learn more about our strike system.
Playlists policy
Playlists are a great way to combine videos that your community may want to
watch as a series. We know it’s not often intentional, but there may be times
when playlists contain content that’s not allowed on the platform and can
cause harm to our community. This means that playlists that violate our
Community Guidelines are not allowed on YouTube.
Here’s a simple way to think of it: if you were to combine all the playlists’
videos into one single video, and that video were to violate our Community
Guidelines, then the playlist may violate Community Guidelines as well.
If you find content that violates this policy, please report it. Instructions for
reporting violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you find
many videos, comments, or a creator's entire channel that you wish to report,
visit our reporting tool.
Don’t post playlists on YouTube if they fit any of the descriptions noted below.
Examples
If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an
email to let you know. If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may
remove the link.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
If you post content that encourages other users to violate our Terms of Service,
the content may be removed, your account may be penalized, and in some
cases your account may be terminated.
Posting content previously removed for violating our Terms of Service, content
from creators with a current channel restriction, or content from creators who
have been terminated is considered circumvention under our Terms of Service.
If you post such content, it may be removed, and your YouTube channel may
also be penalized or terminated. This may also apply to other channels you
own.
We may ask you to confirm your age if we think that you are not old enough to
use YouTube. You can learn more about this process here.
The safety of our creators, viewers, and partners is our highest priority. We
look to each of you to help us protect this unique and vibrant community. It’s
important you understand our Community Guidelines, and the role they play in
our shared responsibility to keep YouTube safe. Take the time to carefully
read the policy below. You can also check out this page for a full list of our
guidelines.
Update: Content that targets young minors and families but contains sexual
themes, violence, obscene, or other mature themes not suitable for young
audiences, is not allowed on YouTube. In addition to your titles, descriptions,
and tags, ensure your audience selection matches the audience your content is
suitable for.
YouTube doesn’t allow content that endangers the emotional and physical
well-being of minors. A minor is defined as someone under the legal age of
majority -- usually anyone younger than 18 years old in most
countries/regions.
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. If you believe that a child
is in danger, you should get in touch with your local law enforcement to report
the situation immediately.
Please note these policies also apply to external links in your content. This can
include clickable URLs, verbally directing users to other sites in video, as well as
other forms.
Age-restricted content
Examples
Remember these are just some examples, and don't post content if you think it
might violate this policy.
More examples
What happens if content violates this policy
If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an
email to let you know. If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may
remove the link.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
Thumbnails policy
The safety of our creators, viewers, and partners is our highest priority. We
look to each of you to help us protect this unique and vibrant community. It’s
important you understand our Community Guidelines, and the role they play in
our shared responsibility to keep YouTube safe. Take the time to carefully
read the policy below. You can also check out this page for a full list of our
guidelines.
Thumbnails and other images that violate our Community Guidelines aren’t
allowed on YouTube. Images include banners, avatars, Community posts, and
any other YouTube feature that has images.
If you find thumbnails or other images that violate this policy, report them. If
you find a few videos or comments that you want to report, you can report the
channel.
What this policy means for you
Pornographic imagery
Sexual acts, the use of sex toys, fetishes, or other sexually gratifying
imagery
Nudity, including genitals
Imagery that depicts unwanted sexualization
Violent imagery that intends to shock or disgust
Graphic or disturbing imagery with blood or gore
Vulgar or lewd language
A thumbnail that misleads viewers to think they’re about to view
something that’s not in the video
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. Instructions for reporting
violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you've found a
few videos or comments that you would like to report, you can report the
channel.
Sexually explicit content featuring minors and content that sexually exploits
minors is not allowed on YouTube. We report content containing child sexual
abuse imagery to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, who
work with global law enforcement agencies.
Explicit content that violates this policy could result in channel termination.
This policy applies to real-world, dramatized, illustrated, and animated
content, including sex scenes, video games, and music.
Age-restricted content
Educational content
Examples
Note: The above are just some examples. If you think content might violate
this policy, don’t post it.
More examples
If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an
email to let you know. If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may
remove the link.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
The safety of our creators, viewers, and partners is our highest priority. We
look to each of you to help us protect this unique and vibrant community. It’s
important you understand our Community Guidelines, and the role they play in
our shared responsibility to keep YouTube safe. Take the time to carefully
read the policy below. You can also check out this page for a full list of our
guidelines.
Note: On April 18, 2023, we updated our Eating disorders policy to better
protect the community from sensitive content that may pose a risk to some
audiences. We may remove imitable content, age-restrict content, or show a
crisis resource panel on videos about eating disorders or self-harm topics. The
below policy is updated with these changes. You can learn more about our
approach in this blog post.
At YouTube, we take the health and well-being of all our creators and viewers
seriously. Awareness and understanding of mental health is important and we
support creators sharing their stories, such as posting content discussing their
experiences with depression, self-harm, eating disorders, or other mental
health issues.
For general guidance on how to talk to someone who you may be concerned
about, contact local helplines.
To read tips and watch videos that can help you feel safer on YouTube, visit
the Creator Safety Center.
YouTube users should not be afraid to speak openly about the topics of mental
health, suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders in a supportive and non-
harmful way.
However, there are times when content is created that is sensitive and may
pose a risk for some users. When you create content that contains suicide, self-
harm, or eating disorder related topics, take into account the possible negative
impact of your content on other users, especially minors and users who may
be sensitive to this content.
To protect and support your viewers and other users, please follow the
Community Guidelines below when creating content related to suicide, self-
harm, or eating disorders. Not following these Community Guidelines may
result in a strike, removal of your content, or other restrictions to protect
users. Learn more.
Best practices for creators posting content about suicide, self-harm, or eating
disorders
If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an
email to let you know. If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may
remove the link.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
The safety of our creators, viewers, and partners is our highest priority. We
look to each of you to help us protect this unique and vibrant community. It’s
important you understand our Community Guidelines, and the role they play in
our shared responsibility to keep YouTube safe. Take the time to carefully
read the policy below. You can also check out this page for a full list of our
guidelines.
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. Instructions for reporting
violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you've found a
few videos or comments that you would like to report, you can report the
channel.
Explicit content that violates this policy could result in age restriction, content
removal, or a strike. We may consider the following factors when deciding
whether to age-restrict, remove content, or issue a strike.
Use of sexually explicit language or narratives
Use of excessive profanity in the content
Use of heavy profanity or sexually suggestive terms in the content’s title,
thumbnail, or associated metadata
Use of excessive sexual sounds
Age-restricted content
If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an
email to let you know. If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may
remove the link.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. Instructions for reporting
violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you've found
multiple videos or comments that you would like to report, you can report the
channel. For tips about how to stay safe, keep your account secure, and
protect your privacy, check out the Creator Safety Center and Stay safe on
YouTube.
If specific threats are made against you and you feel unsafe, report it directly
to your local law enforcement agency.
Don’t post content on YouTube if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.
This policy applies to videos, video descriptions, comments, live streams, and
any other YouTube product or feature. Keep in mind that this isn't a complete
list. Please note these policies also apply to external links in your content. This
can include clickable URLs, verbally directing users to other sites in video, as
well as other forms.
Exceptions
Note: We take a harder line on content that maliciously insults someone based
on their protected group status, regardless of whether or not they are a high-
profile person.
In some rare cases, we may remove content or issue other penalties when a
creator:
Examples
More Examples
If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an
email to let you know. If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may
remove the link.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. Instructions for reporting
violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you've found a
few videos or comments that you would like to report, you can report the
channel.
Don’t post content on YouTube if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.
Keep in mind that this isn't a complete list. Please note these policies also
apply to external links in your content. This can include clickable URLs, verbally
directing users to other sites in video, as well as other forms.
Age-restricted content
This policy applies to videos, video descriptions, comments, live streams, and
any other YouTube product or feature.
Drug use
Remember these are just some examples, and don't post content if you think it
might violate this policy.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
The safety of our creators, viewers, and partners is our highest priority. We
look to each of you to help us protect this unique and vibrant community. It’s
important you understand our Community Guidelines, and the role they play in
our shared responsibility to keep YouTube safe. Take the time to carefully
read the policy below. You can also check out this page for a full list of our
guidelines.
Note: On June 5, 2019, we announced some changes to our hate speech
policies. You can learn more about those changes here. The below policy has
been updated with those changes.
Age
Caste
Disability
Ethnicity
Gender Identity and Expression
Nationality
Race
Immigration Status
Religion
Sex/Gender
Sexual Orientation
Victims of a major violent event and their kin
Veteran Status
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. Instructions for reporting
violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you've found a
few videos or comments that you would like to report, you can report the
channel.
Educational content
This policy applies to videos, video descriptions, comments, live streams, and
any other YouTube product or feature. Please note these policies also apply
to external links in your content. This can include clickable URLs, verbally
directing users to other sites in video, as well as other forms.
For educational content that includes hate speech, this context must appear in
the images or audio of the video itself. Providing it in the title or description is
insufficient.
Examples
“I’m glad this [violent event] happened. They got what they deserved
[referring to persons with the attributes noted above].”
“[Person with attributes noted above] are dogs” or “[person with
attributes noted above] are like animals.”
More examples
Please remember these are just some examples, and don't post content if you
think it might violate this policy.
If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an
email to let you know. If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may
remove the link.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
The safety of our creators, viewers, and partners is our highest priority. We
look to each of you to help us protect this unique and vibrant community. It’s
important you understand our Community Guidelines, and the role they play in
our shared responsibility to keep YouTube safe. Take the time to carefully
read the policy below. You can also check out this page for a full list of our
guidelines.
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. Instructions for reporting
violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you've found a
few videos or comments that you would like to report, you can report the
channel.
If you believe anyone is in immediate danger, you should reach out to your
local law enforcement agency to report the situation immediately.
Don’t post content on YouTube if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.
This policy applies to videos, video descriptions, comments, live streams, and
any other YouTube product or feature. Keep in mind that this isn't a complete
list. Please note these policies also apply to external links in your content. This
can include clickable URLs, verbally directing users to other sites in video, as
well as other forms.
Examples
Please remember these are just some examples, and don't post content if you
think it might violate this policy.
If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an
email to let you know. If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may
remove the link.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
The safety of our creators, viewers, and partners is our highest priority. We
look to each of you to help us protect this unique and vibrant community. It’s
important you understand our Community Guidelines, and the role they play in
our shared responsibility to keep YouTube safe. Take the time to carefully
read the policy below. You can also check out this page for a full list of our
guidelines.
If you believe anyone is in imminent danger, you should get in touch with your
local law enforcement agency to report the situation immediately.
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. Instructions for reporting
violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you've found a
few videos or comments that you would like to report, you can report the
channel.
Don’t post content on YouTube if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.
Note that we do not allow the following kinds of content even if there's
educational, documentary, scientific, or artistic context provided:
Keep in mind that this policy also applies to videos, video descriptions,
thumbnails, comments, live streams, and any other YouTube product or
feature. Please note these policies also apply to external links in your content.
This can include clickable URLs, verbally directing users to other sites in video,
as well as other forms.
Educational content
Age-restricted content
This policy applies to videos, video descriptions, comments, live streams, and
any other YouTube product or feature.
Examples
More examples
Remember these examples are just some examples, and don’t post content if
you think it might violate this policy.
If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an
email to let you know. If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may
remove the link.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
Misinformation policies
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. Instructions for reporting
violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you've found
multiple videos or comments that you would like to report, you can report the
channel.
Examples
Remember these are just some examples, and don't post content if you think it
might violate these policies. Please note these policies also apply to external
links in your content. This can include clickable URLs, verbally directing users to
other sites in video, as well as other forms.
We may allow content that violates the misinformation policies noted on this
page if that content includes additional context in the video, audio, title, or
description. This is not a pass to promote misinformation. We may make
exceptions if the purpose of the content is to condemn, dispute, or satirize
misinformation that violates our policies.
If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an
email to let you know. If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may
remove the link.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. Instructions for reporting
violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you've found
multiple videos or comments from a single channel that you would like to
report, you can report the channel.
What these policies mean for you
These policies prohibit certain types of content relating to free and fair
democratic elections. Don’t post elections-related content on YouTube if it fits
any of the descriptions noted below.
Examples
The following types of content are not allowed on YouTube. This isn't a
complete list.
Voter suppression
Candidate eligibility
Incitement to interfere with democratic processes
Distribution of hacked materials
Election integrity
Remember these are just some examples, and don't post content if you think it
might violate these policies. Please note these policies also apply to external
links in your content. This can include clickable URLs, verbally directing users to
other sites in video, as well as other forms.
If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an
email to let you know. If this is your first time violating our Community
Guidelines, you’ll get a warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not,
we’ll issue a strike against your channel. If you get 3 strikes, your channel will
be terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
Firearms policy
The safety of our creators, viewers, and partners is our highest priority. We
look to each of you to help us protect this unique and vibrant community. It’s
important you understand our Community Guidelines, and the role they play in
our shared responsibility to keep YouTube safe. Take the time to carefully
read the policy below. You can also check out this page for a full list of our
guidelines.
Content intended to sell firearms, instruct viewers on how to make firearms,
ammunition, and certain accessories, or instruct viewers on how to install
those accessories is not allowed on YouTube. YouTube shouldn't be used as a
platform to sell firearms or accessories noted below. YouTube also doesn’t
allow live streams that show someone holding, handling, or transporting a
firearm.
Examples
Please remember these are just some examples, and don't post content if you
think it might violate this policy.
If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an
email to let you know. If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may
remove the link.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. Instructions for reporting
violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you've found a
few videos or comments that you would like to report, you can report the
channel.
The safety of our creators, viewers, and partners is our highest priority. We
look to each of you to help us protect this unique and vibrant community. It’s
important you understand our Community Guidelines, and the role they play in
our shared responsibility to keep YouTube safe. Take the time to carefully
read the policy below. You can also check out this page for a full list of our
guidelines.
Content intended to sell certain regulated goods and services is not allowed on
YouTube.
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. Instructions for reporting
violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you've found a
few videos or comments that you would like to report, you can report the
channel.
Don't post content on YouTube if it aims to directly sell, link to, or facilitate
access to any of the regulated goods and services listed below. Making the sale
of these items or facilitating the use of these services possible by posting links,
email, phone number or other means to contact a seller directly is not allowed.
Alcohol
Bank account passwords, stolen credit cards, or other financial
information
Counterfeit documents or currency
Controlled narcotics and other drugs
Explosives
Organs
Endangered species or parts of endangered species
Firearms and certain firearms accessories
Nicotine, including vaping products
Online gambling sites not yet reviewed by Google or YouTube
Pharmaceuticals without a prescription
Sex or escort services
Unlicensed medical services
Human smuggling
This policy applies to videos, video descriptions, comments, live streams, and
any other YouTube product or feature. Keep in mind that this isn't a complete
list. Please note these policies also apply to external links in your content. This
can include clickable URLs, verbally directing users to other sites in video, as
well as other forms.
Examples
Please remember these are just some examples, and don't post content if you
think it might violate this policy.
If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an
email to let you know. If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may
remove the link.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
Content intended to sell certain regulated goods and services is not allowed on
YouTube.
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. Instructions for reporting
violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you've found a
few videos or comments that you would like to report, you can report the
channel.
Don't post content on YouTube if it aims to directly sell, link to, or facilitate
access to any of the regulated goods and services listed below. Making the sale
of these items or facilitating the use of these services possible by posting links,
email, phone number or other means to contact a seller directly is not allowed.
Alcohol
Bank account passwords, stolen credit cards, or other financial
information
Counterfeit documents or currency
Controlled narcotics and other drugs
Explosives
Organs
Endangered species or parts of endangered species
Firearms and certain firearms accessories
Nicotine, including vaping products
Online gambling sites not yet reviewed by Google or YouTube
Pharmaceuticals without a prescription
Sex or escort services
Unlicensed medical services
Human smuggling
This policy applies to videos, video descriptions, comments, live streams, and
any other YouTube product or feature. Keep in mind that this isn't a complete
list. Please note these policies also apply to external links in your content. This
can include clickable URLs, verbally directing users to other sites in video, as
well as other forms.
Examples
Please remember these are just some examples, and don't post content if you
think it might violate this policy.
If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an
email to let you know. If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may
remove the link.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a
warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike
against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be
terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.
How does YouTube develop new policies and update existing ones?
Each of our policies is carefully thought through so that they are consistent,
well-informed and can be applied to content from around the world. They're
developed in consultation with a wide range of external industry and policy
experts, as well as YouTube Creators. New policies go through multiple
rounds of testing before they go live to ensure that our global team of
content reviewers can apply them accurately and consistently.
This work is never finished, and we are always evaluating our policies to
understand how we can better strike a balance between keeping the
YouTube community protected and giving everyone a voice.
500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. That's a lot of
content, which is why our teams come together to make sure that what you
see on our platform follows our Community Guidelines. To do that, we
combine the power of advanced machine learning systems and our
community itself to flag potentially problematic content. Our machine
learning systems and expert reviewers then remove flagged content that
violates our Community Guidelines.
How does YouTube identify content that violates the Community Guidelines?
If you see content that you think violates the Community Guidelines,
you can use our flagging feature to submit content for review.
Resources
What action does YouTube take for content that violates the Community Guidelines?
Resources
Age-restricting content
Sometimes content doesn't violate our Community Guidelines but may not
be appropriate for viewers under 18 years of age. In these cases, our review
team will place an age restriction on the video so that it will not be visible to
viewers under 18 years of age, logged-out users or to those who
have Restricted mode enabled. Creators can also choose to age-restrict their
own content at upload if they think that it's not suitable for younger
audiences.
Resources
Restricted Mode is an optional setting that you can use on YouTube. This
feature can help screen out potentially mature content that you or others
using your devices may prefer not to view.
If you’ve entered your username and password, and Restricted Mode remains
on, you can check your settings on the YouTube content restrictions page for
more info. The tool will assess whether an administrator set up these
restrictions, or if they are on your personal account. A check mark will display
beside the relevant restriction. If more help is needed, the tool will guide you
toward the next step for troubleshooting.
Note: Some mobile network providers offer content filters. These filters
restrict the type of web content that you can access when your device is
connected to their mobile network. Check the YouTube content restrictions
page to see if you have any network or account level restrictions. A check
mark will display beside the relevant restriction, and the text below will
indicate the restriction level. If your DNS restrictions are on, and the level is
set to “moderate” or “strict," you have content filtering turned on. Try
contacting your mobile network provider to find out how to manage or turn
off this setting.
If you’re a parent using the Family Link app, you can turn on Restricted Mode
for your child's account if they’re not eligible for a supervised experience on
YouTube. Learn how to turn on Restricted Mode in the Family Link app's
settings.
When Restricted Mode is turned on in Family Link, your child can't change the
Restricted Mode settings on any device they’re signed in to.
Note: You can’t set up Restricted Mode for your child if they:
Are over 13 (or the relevant age in your country/region), unless you
created their supervised Google Account before they reached this age.
Are over 13 (or the relevant age in your country/region) and have taken
over management of their account.
Live in the European Union, you set up supervision for them before April
2021, and they were under the relevant age then.
Note: Restricted Mode is set at the device level. If content isn't playing through
your device, check your Restricted Mode settings.
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Was this helpful?
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Age-restrict your own video on YouTube
If any of your videos are not appropriate for viewers under 18, you can add an
age restriction. This type of age restriction is self-imposed and is not a result of
a review by YouTube.
Violence
Disturbing imagery
Nudity
Sexually suggestive content
Portrayal of dangerous activities
If the video is meant to be an ad, don't use this type of age restriction. It will
result in ads being permanently disapproved.
When we remove your content for a Community Guidelines violation, you may
be issued a strike. Strikes are issued when content on YouTube is flagged for
review, either by members of the YouTube community or our smart detection
technology, and our review teams decide that it does not follow our
Community Guidelines. If your channel gets a strike, you'll get an email,
notifications on mobile and desktop, and an alert in your channel settings the
next time you sign in to YouTube.
Before you start, review the policy related to the strike. We also list examples
of content that result in a Community Guidelines strike. You can only appeal
for 90 days after the warning or strike was issued.
Appeal a strike
Note: Deleting the video will not resolve the strike. If you delete your video,
the strike will remain on your channel and you won't be able to appeal again.
If it’s a video:
1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
2. From the left menu, select Content.
3. Go to the video you want to appeal.
4. Under the “Restrictions” column, hover your cursor over the restriction
type and click Appeal.
5. Enter your reason for appealing and click Submit.
6.
You’ll receive an email if your playlist or thumbnail was removed for violating
our Community Guidelines. If you think that your content doesn't violate the
Community Guidelines and was removed in error, use the form provided in the
email to appeal.
Note: Videos can be taken down for many reasons. If you're having trouble
appealing a video removal, it may have been removed for reasons other than a
Community Guidelines violation. You can troubleshoot video takedowns in
this Help Center article.
You'll get an email from YouTube letting you know the result of your appeal
request. One of the following will happen:
This content is for help with videos that have been removed from YouTube. If
you need help with taking down a video, learn how to delete your own
videos or report inappropriate content.
If you see the "Video removed" message next to one of your uploaded videos,
it means the video has been found to violate our policies and has been taken
off YouTube. Click a section below to learn what you can do to resolve the
issue.
Inappropriate content
Terms of Service violation
Includes copyrighted content
Video taken down
Trademark issue
Give feedback about this article
Was this helpful?
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We’re expanding the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) to more creators with
earlier access to fan funding and shopping features. This expansion is rolling
out over the next month to creators in Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, the
United Kingdom, and the United States. If you’re in one of these
countries/regions, check out this article to learn more about the changes
coming to YPP.
If you’re not in one of the countries/regions above, check out this article for
the YPP overview, eligibility, and application instructions relevant to you.
Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, we will be temporarily pausing Google and
YouTube ads from serving to users located in Russia. Learn more.
You can earn money on YouTube by applying for and being accepted to
the YouTube Partner Program. Only channels that follow our YouTube channel
monetization policies may be able to monetize.
A few notes
We won’t tell you what you can create on YouTube, but we do have a
responsibility to do right by our viewers, creators and advertisers. If
you’re in the YouTube Partner Program, you can earn money through
YouTube. When in the YouTube Partner Program, we hold you to a
higher standard.
To make sure we’re rewarding good creators, we review your channel
before you’re accepted in the YouTube Partner Program. We also
constantly review channels to make sure you’re meeting all our policies
and guidelines.
You may be liable to pay taxes on your earnings from YouTube; find out
more below.
Each feature has its own set of eligibility requirements on top of subscriber and
view count requirements. If our reviewers believe that your channel or video is
not eligible, specific features may not be available. These extra thresholds exist
for two main reasons. The most important one is that we have to meet legal
requirements in every area where the feature is available. Then, because we
want to reward good creators, we need to make sure we have enough context
on your channel. Generally, this context means we need more content to
review.
Keep in mind that we constantly review channels to make sure your content is
in line with our policies.
Keep in mind that each feature has its own requirements. Some features may
not be available to you due to local legal requirements.
Once you've been accepted in the YouTube Partner Program, you may get
access to these monetization features:
Requirements
Be at least 18 years old, or have a legal guardian older
than 18 years of age who can handle your payments via
Ad revenue AdSense
Live in a country/region where YPP is available
Accept the relevant contract Modules
Create content that meets our advertiser-friendly
content guidelines
Watch the following video from the YouTube Creators channel on how to earn
money on YouTube.
Recommended videos
Recommendations help you discover more of the videos that you love,
whether it's a great new recipe to try or your next favourite song. We share
recommendations both on YouTube's homepage and in the 'Up next' section
as a suggestion of what to watch next when you're watching a video. We're
constantly testing, learning and adjusting to recommend videos that are
relevant to you. We take into account many signals, including your watch
and search history (if enabled) as well as the channels that you've
subscribed to. We also consider your context, such as your country and time
of day. For example, this helps us show you locally relevant news.
YouTube creators are individuals who produce content for the platform. This
is a unique model that empowers creators to earn money directly on our
platform in a variety of different ways, including through placed advertising,
merchandise sales, and subscriptions.
Advertising
Creators must first be eligible for the YouTube Partner Programme (YPP) in
order to earn money from advertising on their videos and live streams. In
keeping with our commitment to responsibility, we view monetisation as a
privilege and reward only trusted Creators.
Resources
Over the last few years, we've introduced several alternate sources of
revenue outside of advertising to help eligible creators monetise their
content while connecting with their viewers. As with the case of
advertising, creators and YouTube share revenue from these products.
Channel memberships
Fans can buy and send text or digital sticker messages to highlight
their live chat messages and connect with their favourite creators.
*Feature availability varies by country and we are working to expand
to more countries.
Subscriptions
Revenue alternatives
Responsible advertising
How does YouTube ensure creator success while ensuring that ads run only on quality
content?
Over the last few years, we’ve taken steps to strengthen our requirements
for monetisation via ads to reward only the most trusted Creators making
original content.
However, advertising is not the only way for creators to earn money on
YouTube. We're always trying to help creators share their stories, deepen
relationships with their fans and earn additional money. Over the last few
years, we've developed and released several tools to help eligible creators
who are a part of YPP find additional ways to make money such as Super
Chat and channel memberships . As with advertising, creators and YouTube
share revenue from these products.
We understand at YouTube and across Google that when you use our
services, you're trusting us with your information. This is a big responsibility
and we work hard to protect your information and put you in control. For
example, Google's Privacy Policy is designed to give you transparency over
what information we collect, why we collect it and how you can manage
your information. Your data in YouTube is a powerful, easy-to-use tool
designed to give you control over the privacy settings that are right for you,
and provides information on the data that we collect and use across our
services.
Resources
Overview
After providing us with reference files, Content ID and Copyright Match Tool
users are automatically notified of user-uploaded videos that may contain
their creative work. Additionally, Content ID users can choose in advance
what they want to happen when those videos are detected. Thanks to the
different options that Content ID gives copyright owners, it's not just an
anti-piracy solution, but also a revenue-generation tool. YouTube has paid
more than $5.5 billion to rightsholders from ad revenue alone, from content
that they've claimed and monetised through Content ID.
To check if a video that you reported has been removed, you can view
your Report history.
Subscribe to the YouTube Viewers channel for the latest news, updates, and
tips.
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If the reporting process doesn’t accurately capture your issue, we have other
reporting mechanisms you can use.
Privacy reporting
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Ad settings
YouTube aims to show you relevant and useful ads based on your
activity, but you're always in control. With Ad Settings, we make it
easy for you to control what data we use to personalise ads to you.
This includes information that you've added to your Google Account,
what we've guessed about your interests as a result of your activity
and interactions with other advertisers that partner with us to show
ads.
For example, we may think that you're a football fan because you
watched highlights from a recent match on YouTube or looked up
'football pitches near me' on Google Search. And if you've spent time
on a partner advertiser's site, we may suggest ads based on that visit.
When ad personalisation is on, you can choose any info – age and
gender, an inferred interest or a previous interaction with an
advertiser – to learn more about why it's being used, turn it off or
deactivate personalised ads altogether. You'll still see ads, but they'll
most likely be less relevant.
Ad Settings: Learn more about and
“Get ready with me” videos are the OG format of this genre. They use
the everyday task of putting on makeup as a vehicle for creators to
chat with their viewers in an informal setting.
get ready with me prom
get ready with me asmr
get ready with me dagi bee
Clean With Me
Anyone who has ever wondered how other people decide what to
stuff in their suitcases can indulge in “pack with me” videos, which
offer the voyeuristic thrill of seeing how someone else makes the
same decisions that we all have to make when prepping for travel.
pack with me for vacation
pack with me kids
pack with me hospital bag
Self-Improvement
With a slant on tasks that help people increase their personal
productivity, these videos take very personal acts and make them
public, offering viewers a motivation and a means for participating in
those acts.
201120122013201420152016201720182019
Jan 2014
Self-improvement "with me" videos began to emerge in 2014.
May 2018
"Study with me" video views surpassed "plan with me" to lead the
trend.
Plan With Me
“Journal with me” videos are similar to “plan with me” videos, but
“journal with me” videos have even more of an emphasis on journal
design.
kpop journal with me
art journal with me
journal with me traveler's notebook
Study With Me
“Study with me” videos just show creators studying, and they amass
large audiences whose viewership peaks during the school year and
drops off during breaks. These videos provide motivation and
inspiration for an activity that can be difficult to start.
study with me live
study with me unjaded jade
study with me pomodoro session
Creativity
These videos explore the act of creation, whether it’s creating a
drawing or creating a makeup look, and invite viewers in on the act of
creating something from nothing.
201120122013201420152016201720182019
Pre 2011
The "with me" trend started in 2007 when "draw with me" videos
began to pop up.
May 2019
"Paint with me" edged out "draw with me" to become the most
popular creativity trend.
Draw With Me
“Paint with me” videos share much in common with “get ready with
me” videos. While the viewer watches the viewer assemble an image
together, creators use these videos as an opportunity to talk to their
audiences.
paint with me acrylic
paint with me jim reno
paint with me abstract
penpal with me
₹ 16,000+ Crores
2 of 3
DOWNLOAD REPORT
Meet the creators, artists and small businesses from across India who
call YouTube their home. Click on the different states and union
territories on the map below to explore the stories of teachers,
entertainers, farmers and other creators, and businesses who use
YouTube to empower their communities, and share their culture and
passions.
YouTube Search
We work hard to ensure that our systems are not designed to be biased
against content belonging to individuals or groups based on political
viewpoints or other attributes like gender or sexual orientation. Our
platform has always been about sharing information everywhere and giving
many different people a voice.
We use regular people across the globe to train our search and discovery
systems. The guidelines that they use are publicly available . Our search and
recommendation systems are not designed to filter or demote videos or
channels based on specific political perspectives.
We believe that technology should improve life, not distract from it, so
we're committed to giving you the resources that you need to develop a
healthy relationship with technology. We have built a set of Digital
Wellbeing tools to provide a better understanding of how you spend time
on YouTube, so that you can make informed decisions about how you want
YouTube to best fit into your life.
A few examples include our 'time watched profile', 'take a break reminder',
'bedtime reminder' and the ability to 'set a timer'. They are designed to help
everyone better understand their YouTube usage, disconnect when needed
and create healthy habits for the entire family.
Resources
Learn more about digital wellbeing tools
YouTube Kids
We give you tools to help you influence the factors that we take into
account to provide the best search results for you. If you choose to
pause and clear your search and watch histories, YouTube's search
results will not take these signals into account.
Resources
Your activity on YouTube, Google, and Chrome may influence your YouTube
search results, recommendations on the home page, in-app notifications, and
suggested videos among other places.
If you’re signed in, you’ll notice topics on Home and on watch pages to help
you refine your recommendations. These topics are based on your existing,
personalized suggestions. The topics are also based on content related to what
you interact with. These topics are meant to help you find content you want to
watch faster.
If you find a video that isn’t related to the topic you’ve chosen on Home, let us
know by tapping More and then Not <topic> .
Videos
Channels
Sections
Playlists
You can also make sure that videos from specific channels don't show up in
your recommendations. Select the Menu, and then Don’t recommend
channel.
Your “Not Interested” and “Don’t recommend channel” feedback may be used
to tune your recommendations. To clear all the “Not interested” and “Don’t
recommend channel” feedback you've submitted:
View our other articles for more info about watch history, search history, and
improving your recommendations.
You can view and control your activity at myactivity.google.com. Learn more
about controlling activity for your Google Account.
Your recommendations and search results are also based on videos that you’ve
liked and playlists that you’ve created. You can remove liked
videos and edit or delete playlists to influence your recommendations and
search results.
March 10, 2022: Given the recent suspension of Google advertising systems in
Russia, we’ll be pausing the creation of new Russian accounts on AdSense,
AdMob and Google Ad Manager. Additionally, we will pause ads on Google
properties and networks globally for advertisers based in Russia. As a result,
creators in Russia won’t be able to complete new YPP sign-ups at this time.
February 25, 2022: In light of the war in Ukraine, we are pausing YouTube’s
monetization of Russian Federation state-funded media channels.
Updated June 2023: This policy has been updated to reflect updates on
expanded YouTube Partner Program monetization features (fan funding), as
well as to clarify revenue enforcement details for terminated or suspended
channels.
These policies apply to anyone in, or looking to apply to, the YouTube Partner
Program. The YouTube Shorts monetization policies also apply if you’re
monetizing Shorts on YouTube.
All content monetizing with ads must follow our advertiser-friendly content
guidelines. To earn revenue from fan funding features, first time users must
accept the Commerce Product Module (CPM) before turning on the individual
features. You must also follow the Commerce Products monetization
policies when monetizing with fan funding features.
Here’s a quick overview of each major policy. Make sure you read each policy
thoroughly, as these policies are used to check if a channel is suitable to
monetize. Our reviewers regularly check to see whether monetizing channels
follow these policies. Learn more about how we enforce our policies.
Keep in mind that when we use the term video on this page, it refers to Shorts,
long-form videos, and live streaming. These policies apply wherever videos are
viewed including the Watch Page (pages within YouTube, YouTube Music, or
YouTube Kids), the YouTube Video Player (player that embeds YouTube
content on other sites), and the YouTube Shorts Player (player that makes
Shorts available).
Our reviewers check content that best represents your channel against our
policies. Since our reviewers can’t check every video, they may focus on your
channel’s:
Main theme
Most viewed videos
Newest videos
Biggest proportion of watch time
Video metadata (including titles, thumbnails, and descriptions)
The above are just examples of content our reviewers may assess. Note that
our reviewers can, and may check other parts of your channel to see whether
it fully meets our policies.
If you're in the YouTube Partner Program, you can get access to our Creator
Support team.
Whether you're facing a specific problem or you want to find out how to get
the most out of YouTube as a creator, we're here to help you:
You can find more detailed instructions to contact Creator Support and how
to get help as a YouTube Creator.