YouTube updates harassment policy

YouTube updates harassment policy

YouTube announced changes to their harassment policy as they understand that such issues prevent people from sharing their thoughts and opinions and ultimately, prevent the community from growing.

What has changed
  1. YouTube will not allow content that targets an individual with prolonged or malicious insults based on their intrinsic attributes, including their protected group status or physical traits.
  2. Implied threats, will get your content removed. E.g. simulating violence toward an individual or language suggesting physical violence may occur.
YouTube may remove content if:
  1. There was a physical threat
  2. Confidential personal information is revealed
  3. Someone encourages people to harass other people
  4. Implied threats are made
  5. Someone repeatedly harass other people
Channels that repeatedly harass other people may also:
  1. Be removed from YouTube Partner Program (monetization will be disabled)
  2. Receive strikes
  3. Have the account terminated

Exceptions to the application of this policy
YouTube may allow certain slurs. Some examples of exceptions are:
  1. Debates related to high-profile officials or leaders: Content featuring debates or discussions of topical issues concerning people who have positions of power, like high-profile government officials or CEOs of major multinational corporations.
  2. Scripted performances: Insults made in the context of an artistic medium such as scripted satire, stand up comedy, or music (e.g. a disc track). Note: This is not a free pass to harass someone and claim “I was joking.”
  3. Harassment education or awareness: Content that features actual or simulated harassment for documentary purposes or with willing participants (e.g. actors) to combat cyberbullying or raise awareness.

In case YouTube takes action in my content or channel, can I appeal?
Yes. You will receive an email notification and the option to appeal.

I'm being harassed in someone else's video, what can I do?
The fastest way to deal with content is to report it to YouTube, by following these steps:
  1. Sign in to YouTube.
  2. Below the player for the video you want to report, click the three dots.
  3. In the drop-down menu, choose Report.
  4. Select the reason that best fits the violation in the video (for this specific situation "Hateful or abusive content").
  5. Provide any additional details that may help the review team make their decision, including timestamps or descriptions of the violation.
I'm being harassed in the comments of my video, what can I do?
First thing to do is review your comment settings. 
  1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
  2. From the left menu, select Settings.
  3. Select Community and then Defaults.
  4. Select your default settings:
    1. If you have the Community tab: Choose your default settings under “Comments on your channel”.
    2. If you don’t have the Community tab: Choose your default setting for new video uploads under “Comments on your new videos”. Choose your default setting for new comments on the Discussion tab under “Comments on your Discussion tab”.
  5. Select Save.
There you can:
  1. Enable the option to hold comments for review.
  2. Block certain words.
  3. Block comments with links.
  4. Report or hide comments.

Resources:
  1. Harassment and cyberbullying policy
  2. YouTube's blog post
  3. YouTube's community post
  4. Reporting inappropriate content
  5. Staying safe on YouTube
  6. Comment settings

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