YouTube to demonetize ‘made for kids’ videos if they mostly promote ‘low quality principles’

YouTube announced a set of “quality principles” designed as a guideline for content creators making videos that are aimed at younger viewers. The video-sharing platform has also said it would demonetize videos that would not follow these principles and do not deliver high-quality content in a new policy update.

In a blog post on Monday, YouTube Kids and Family director of product management James Beser revealed that the company has been working with child development experts. Said collaboration has resulted in the new set of “quality principles” established as a new guide for creators making videos for kids.

The new quality principles are more than just guides, though. As mentioned, the company will also use them to determine which channels deserve to be monetized or remain in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). “Channels that have predominantly low-quality kids content … may be suspended from YPP,” Beser said. “And if an individual video violates these quality principles, it may see limited or no ads.”

Videos on YouTube that are aimed at younger viewers should promote one or more of the high-quality principles identified by the company. These include encouraging young viewers to be a good person, inspiring learning and curiosity whether through traditional or non-traditional methods, promoting creativity and sense of imagination, interaction with real-world social issues, and diversity.

YouTube has also warned creators of videos for kids against posting low-quality content. The company has also set “low quality principles,” including content only focused on promoting brands and products and demonstrating “excessive consumerism.” YouTube will also consider a video of low quality if it encourages bad behavior, such as depictions of unsafe pranks, bullying, dishonesty, and wastefulness.

Videos labeled for kids can also be demonetized if they are “deceptively educational” or “hindering comprehension.” YouTube discourages creators from posting videos that could be sensational or misleading, which the company defines as having “untrue, exaggerated, bizarre, or opinion-based” content that might be confusing to young viewers.

All the high quality principles and low quality principles are listed with comprehensive definitions on a new support page. Creators should note that these principles need to be considered on top of YouTube’s existing community guidelines. The policy update will be implemented next month.

Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash