Getting three strikes within 90 days will lead to the termination of your YouTube channel. So, what exactly are these content topics that you’re not allowed to talk about on YouTube?
In this article, you’ll learn more about banned topics on YouTube, so that you won’t be in the dark. We’ll cover five broad content topics that you should avoid.
1. Spam and Deceptive Practices
According to YouTube, content that constitutes spam and deceptive practices includes the following:
i. Misleading Metadata or Thumbnails
You’re using misleading metadata or thumbnails if:
Your title doesn’t match the content of the video. Your thumbnails do not reflect the actual content of the video. Your description is deliberately false to fool viewers into clicking on your videos. Your tags are intentionally misleading.
ii. Video Spam
You’re committing video spam if your content:
Promises to show one thing but instead redirects viewers off-site. Sends viewers to sites spreading harmful software, collecting personal data, or engaging in any other harmful activity. Promises quick money to lure viewers off YouTube.
iii. Comments Spam
Comment spam includes the following:
Comments whose sole aim is to collect viewers’ personal data. Deceptively driving viewers off-site. Or indulging in other prohibited behavior.
iv. Repetitive Comments
This involves leaving large amounts of repetitive content that is both identical and untargeted or off-topic. This messes up the comments section for everybody.
v. Scams
YouTube deems that your content is committing a scam if it’s:
Offering cash gifts as incentives. Promoting get-rich-quick schemes. Advocating pyramid schemes.
vi. Live Stream Abuse
You’re violating YouTube Content Guidelines if you live stream content that belongs to others and refuse to take it down after repeated warnings.
vii. Other Banned Spam and Deceptive Practices to Avoid
YouTube also frowns upon content that:
Impersonates or closely resembles a person, brand, or entity with the intent to trick viewers into believing that you are that person, brand, or entity. Abuses external links by linking to sites or content that violates YouTube’s Community Guidelines, e. g linking to pornography or sites with malware. Promotes fake engagement by encouraging the use of unethical means to increase the number of likes, views, comments, shares, etc. Reposts content from previously removed content, or content from restricted or terminated creators.
2. Sensitive Content
To protect its community of users, YouTube has also banned content that encourages child harm, sex and nudity, and self-harm. Here are the types of content that YouTube deems sensitive.
i. Nudity and Sexual Content
As a YouTube creator, you’re not allowed to post explicit content intended to be sexually gratifying. According to YouTube, nudity and sexual content include content that depicts:
Pornography or non-pornographic clips isolated to show explicit content for sexual gratification. Fetishes, groping, pantsing, public masturbation, upskirting, voyeurism, predatory exhibitionism. The genitals, breasts, or buttocks (clothed or unclothed). Someone in a sexualized manner without their consent.
ii. Offensive Thumbnails
YouTube’s Thumbnails Policy prohibits the use of thumbnails that violates its Community Guidelines. Avoid thumbnails that:
Function as clickbait, tricking viewers who click and find something else. Include pornographic, nude, or explicit images intended for sexual gratification. Showcase violent and shocking imagery. Portrays graphic or disturbing imagery with blood or gore. Display vulgar or lewd language.
iii. Child Harm
YouTube frowns upon content that doesn’t promote child safety. Avoid age-inappropriate content that promotes:
Sexualization and sexual exploitation of minors. Dangerous or harmful acts involving minors. Obscenity or other mature themes bundled into family-friendly content. The infliction of emotional distress on minors. Cyberbullying and harassment of minors in any form whatsoever.
iv. Suicide and Self-Harm
Content that promotes suicide or other forms of self-harm doesn’t sit well with YouTube. This includes content that:
Promotes or glorifies suicide or self-harm. Teaches how to die by suicide or engage in self-harm. Graphic images or footage of self-harm targetted at minors. Provides instructions or encourages participation in suicide or self-harm challenges like Momo.
3. Violent or Dangerous Content
Content that encourages harmful or dangerous and illegal activities is not welcome on YouTube. Examples of dangerous and harmful content according to YouTube, include that which:
Promotes extremely dangerous challenges that pose a risk of physical injury. Encourages harmful and threatening pranks. Teaches hard drug use or creation. Contains instructions to kill or inflict self-harm. Encourages cheating, stealing, and dishonest behavior. Promotes unethical hacking. Shows how to bypass payment for services used. Normalizes anorexia or other eating disorders and encourages viewers to imitate them. Praises or glorifies tragic events such as school shootings.
There are also restrictions on content that glorifies violent criminal organizations, hate speech, graphic or violent acts, and harassment and cyberbullying.
4. Misinformation
YouTube does not allow content that spreads misleading or deceptive information that may pose serious threats or cause harm. These types of contents include:
i. Elections Misinformation
You may not post elections-related content on YouTube if it contains:
Material intended to mislead voters regarding the means, place, time, or eligibility requirements for voting, leading to voter suppression. Falsehoods about candidate eligibility in order to discredit them. False claims of electoral malpractices in past elections whose results have been officially certified, such as the 2021 German federal election, and any past U. S. Presidential election. Hacked info whose disclosure can interfere with democratic processes. Footage encouraging others to interfere with electoral or democratic processes.
ii. COVID-19 Misinformation
Content containing misinformation about COVID-19 that contradicts local health authorities (LHA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) is also frowned upon by YouTube.
This includes content that:
Claims that COVID-19 doesn’t exist. Disputes approved guidelines on social distancing. Contains misleading information about how COVID-19 is transmitted. Contradicts LHA or WHO COVID-19 diagnostic procedures. Propagates falsehood about how to prevent COVID-19 infection. Misinforms the public about the treatment of COVID-19.
iii. Vaccine Misinformation
YouTube says it doesn’t allow vaccine-related content that misleads the public about currently approved and administered vaccines. Don’t post content that:
Alleges that vaccines cause other adverse side effects outside of those recognized by health authorities. Contradicts the efficacy of vaccination in treating diseases. Misleads viewers about the true content or ingredients of vaccines.
You may also want to familiarize yourself with YouTube’s general Misinformation Policy.
5. Regulated Goods
YouTube discourages content that promotes the sale or use of illegal or regulated goods or services including firearms. Others include:
Alcohol. Nicotine, including vaping products. Pharmaceuticals without a doctor’s prescription. Unlicensed medical services. Sex or escort services. Endangered species or their parts. Illegal drugs and controlled narcotics. Firearms and regulated firearms accessories. Human trafficking and sale of organs, among others.
Be Guided When Using YouTube
YouTube intends its Community Guidelines to guide you as a creator and to keep the community safe for all. If your content violates these guidelines, somebody may report your videos or channel.
If you’re found to be guilty, YouTube may remove your videos. For repeat offences, you may get a strike. And if you get three strikes within 90 days, YouTube may remove or terminate your channel.
Familiarize yourself with the guidelines and follow them accordingly. Playing by the rules is part of acceptable social media etiquette.
