YouTube is changing the rules regarding videos with weapons. They will be age-restricted, and some will be completely banned. Content featuring homemade and automatic firearms will be prohibited for viewers under 18, while instructional videos on removing safety devices will be banned regardless of age. The new policy will come into effect on June 18.
“Starting June 18, 2024, certain content showing how to remove protective devices will be prohibited. Content demonstrating the use of homemade firearms, automatic firearms, and certain firearm accessories will have an age restriction,” the warning on YouTube's policy page states.
The ban will apply to actual use of firearms and will not affect video games, movie clips, or other artistic content. The platform may also make exceptions for content that is of public interest, such as military or police footage, news, or war-related videos.
In a statement to Engadget, YouTube representative Javier Hernandez notes: “These updates to our firearm policy are part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a policy that reflects the current state of content on YouTube. For example, in recent years 3D printing has become more accessible, so we are expanding restrictions on content related to homemade firearms. We regularly review our guidelines and consult with external experts to ensure we are placing restrictions in the right place.”
The change comes a year after the Tech Transparency Project (TTP), a non-profit watchdog group, accused YouTube of recommending weapon-related content to multiple accounts that the organization had created on behalf of children. The accounts watched videos of shooting video games and tracked which videos YouTube would recommend to them afterward.
The service allegedly recommended content on weapons and shooting. Among the recommendations were videos of a young girl shooting a gun, tutorials on turning guns into fully automatic weapons. Some of the content was monetized through advertising.
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