YouTube has announced an important change to its policies about online gambling and graphic violence in gaming. It wants to lock such videos behind an age-restriction.
Here's the current policy about Violent or graphic content on YouTube. The section under "Age-restricted content and EDSA exceptions" says, "Generally, we do not remove dramatized violence when the content or metadata lets us know that the content is fictional, or when it’s apparent from the content itself, such as with animated content or video games." It mentions that dramatized violence with graphic scenes such as mass violence, torture, severe injuries, violent deaths that show blood will be age-restricted.
The upcoming change to this policy will age-restrict videos that have "content featuring realistic human characters that focuses on scenes of torture or scenes of mass violence against non-combatants." In order to review the content, YouTube will consider the duration, i.e. how long the graphic scene runs, whether it is sustained or fleeting. It will also check the prominence, whether the violent content is zoomed-in, or the main element of a scene, and also if a character that looks like a real human is being harmed. Such videos will not be available for viewers under 18.
But, why is this changing all of a sudden? The official explanation from YouTube is that "Our policies are designed to evolve alongside the digital world. We’re making these updates to keep pace with new trends, like gambling with digital goods, and to more closely align our guidelines for mature content with industry standards."
YouTube already enforces users to sign in to watch age-restricted videos like some video game trailers, or other videos that feature violence. And it also uses AI algorithms to determine an account's age, there are also age restriction laws in some regions where users have to submit an ID to prove they are over 18.
But the updated policy about graphic violence in games is odd, such videos have existed for a long time. In fact, most popular games like Call of Duty, Elden Ring, Doom, Fortnite, etc., all feature violent content. The new policy seems like a rephrased version of the "video games make people violent" nonsense. This is just another way for YouTube to force people to sign in.
As for the change to the online gambling policy, YouTube will prohibit videos that direct viewers to online gambling sites and apps that are not certified by Google. It also applies to additional items that have monetary value, including digital goods (e.g. video game skins, cosmetics and NFTs). The video streaming platform will also age-restrict content that depicts, promotes, or facilitates social casino sites. You know what, that's perfectly fine.
The new guidelines come into effect from November 17, 2025. YouTube says it expects the changes to have little to no impact on most channels. Videos that were uploaded before the new rules kick in, won't result in a strike, but they will be removed, or age-restricted. YouTube will notify channels when such changes are made. Content creators will need to edit their video descriptions, and remove or blur graphical content in their videos before November 17.
Many gamers joked that these new rules won't apply to Grand Theft Auto 6 when it launches in May 2026, because it will bring in millions of views, and in turn, revenue from ads and possibly more opportunities to promote YouTube Premium.
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