YouTube Eases Content Rules: More Controversial Videos Allowed

YouTube is adjusting its content moderation policies, allowing a broader range of controversial videos to remain on the platform. This shift means content that might previously have been removed for violating community guidelines will now be permitted if it’s considered to be in the “public interest.”

New Guidelines for Moderators

Google’s video-sharing giant has provided its moderators with updated guidelines and training. According to The New York Times, moderators are instructed not to remove content, even if it breaks YouTube’s code of conduct, if it is deemed to serve the public interest.

What Kind of Content is Affected?

The revised guidelines specifically mention discussions around critical topics like:

• Elections
• Ideologies
• Movements
• Race
• Gender
• Sexuality
• Abortion
• Immigration
• Censorship

Previously, a video would be removed if 25% or more of its content violated YouTube’s policies. Now, that threshold has been raised to 50%. Moderators are also encouraged to consult with their managers when dealing with borderline cases instead of automatically deleting the video.

Expanding on Previous Exceptions

YouTube says this change builds upon a prior policy adjustment made before the 2024 US election. That adjustment allowed content from political candidates that violated policies to remain under an “educational, documentary, scientific, and artistic content” exemption.

The NYT highlighted an example: a video titled ‘RFK Jr. Delivers SLEDGEHAMMER Blows to Gene-Altering JABS.’ Previously considered medical misinformation, it’s now allowed because the platform believes the public interest outweighs the potential harm.

Limited Impact, According to YouTube

YouTube insists that this change will only affect a small percentage of its massive video library. They claim it will ensure that crucial content remains accessible, citing the example of preventing an hours-long news podcast from being removed due to a brief clip of violence.

A Trend Among Tech Giants

YouTube’s move aligns with a broader trend among tech companies, including Meta (Facebook and Instagram), to loosen content moderation policies. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has stated concerns about over-censorship and a desire to simplify content policies, even removing restrictions on topics such as immigration and gender.

Meta is also moving away from third-party fact-checkers, opting for community notes, similar to those used on X (formerly Twitter). X itself has significantly relaxed its moderation policies since Elon Musk’s acquisition.

Other YouTube News

This announcement comes alongside YouTube’s recent crackdown on ad-blocker loopholes, tightening restrictions on apps and browsers designed to circumvent its anti-ad-blocking measures.