YouTube is updating its advertiser-friendly content guidelines to allow more videos on controversial issues to earn full ad revenue. This applies to content that is dramatized or discussed in a non-graphic manner. The controversial topics include self-harm, abortion, suicide, and domestic and sexual abuse. However, YouTube notes that content on child abuse or eating disorders will remain ineligible for full monetization.
The change was announced this week. In the past, the degree of graphic or descriptive detail was not a significant factor in determining advertiser friendliness for some dramatized material. Consequently, such uploads typically received a yellow dollar icon, which restricted their ability to be fully monetized. With this week’s update, the guidelines are becoming more permissive, and creators will be able to earn more ad revenue.
The Google-owned company says it is making the change in response to creator feedback that YouTube’s guidelines were leading to limited ad revenue on dramatized and topical content. YouTube notes that it wants to ensure that creators who are telling sensitive stories or producing dramatized content have the opportunity to earn ad revenue.
The company stated that upon closer review, it found its guidelines in this area had become too restrictive and ended up demonetizing uploads like dramatized content. This content might reference topics that advertisers find controversial, but are ultimately comfortable running their ads against. For example, content may be in a fictional context or voiced from personal experiences in passing or in a non-graphic manner. So, as long as the content steers clear of very descriptive or graphic scenes or segments, creators can now earn more ad revenue.
The move comes as YouTube has been easing up on how it polices content on its platform. The company told moderators last year to leave up videos that may violate platform rules if they are considered to be in the public interest. These videos included discussions of political, social, and cultural issues. The policy shift came at a time when social media platforms were rolling back online speech moderation after President Donald Trump returned to office.
YouTube notes that there are still some areas where ads will remain restricted. Topics like child abuse, including child sex trafficking and eating disorders, are not included in this update. Descriptive segments of those topics or dramatized content around them remain ineligible for ad revenue.