New Delhi: YouTube is now upgrading its Community Guidelines to stricter rules around the violent gaming videos, gambling content, and those casino-style games, starting from November 17. The company has also mentioned in its support page that videos showing realistic violence, promoting gambling with digital goods or featuring social casino games will face the latest age restrictions. YouTube has stated that this change aims to keep its Community Guidelines in line with industry standards. The company has explained that videos focused on mass violence against non-combatants or torture will now be age-restricted. Which means those users who are under 18 or those who are not signed in will not be able to view them.
YouTube clarified that not all violent gaming content will be affected, according to some sources, on the support page. The latest restrictions mainly target scenes that are particularly graphic, sustained, or zoomed in on realistic human characters. The platform also stated it would look at the duration and prominence of violent scenes when reviewing videos. For compilation videos, users now consider the cumulative duration of all of the graphic clips combined, the support page explained.
YouTube has added that it is also strengthening its policy on gambling-related content. The update expands existing rules to cover gambling with digital goods, such as video game skins, NFTs, and cosmetics, not just real money. YouTube does not allow videos that send viewers to gambling websites or applications which are not approved by Google. YouTube is updating its rules for casino-style games, where the players gamble virtually without real cash. Videos showing or prompting these social casino games will now be age-restricted for viewers under 18.
YouTube said that most channels will experience little to no impact, but warned that videos uploaded before November 17 that violate the latest guidelines could be removed for age restrictions. Older videos that get flagged will not receive strikes, but they will be limited to 18+ audiences. YouTube has also suggested that creators edit or blur affected scenes, and the policy takes effect. The platform will notify creators by email if their content is restricted, and those who disagree with the decision can file an appeal.
