YouTube has outlined new guidelines designed to make the website safer for children to browse.
CNET reports that YouTube has introduced new guidelines to make their video streaming platform safer for children in an attempt to crack down on disturbing and exploitative videos and cartoons aimed at YouTube’s younger viewers.
YoutTube’s new guidelines include:
- Tougher application of community guidelines and faster enforcement through technology
- Removing ads from inappropriate videos targeting families
- Blocking inappropriate comments on videos featuring minors
- Providing guidance for creators who make family-friendly content
- Engaging and learning from experts
The sudden change in YouTube’s guidelines towards children’s content comes after reporters earlier this year of YouTube’s child-friendly version of the website, titled YouTube Kids, failing to filter disturbing content. Many of the videos that slipped past the YouTube Kids filter were specifically aimed at younger audiences but featured unsettling moments of violence and often sexual content.
Many videos on YouTube featuring actual children are subject to sexual comments, another area that YouTube hopes to crack down on with the introduction of these new guidelines. YouTube also began paying more attention to content featuring children after they were forced to take down videos featuring children in abusive situations.
YouTube is also working to remove terrorism-related videos from their website in an effort to fight online extremism. YouTube took notice of these videos after advertisers boycotted the company once they were alerted that advertisements for their products were appearing alongside terrorism-related content. Google’s CFO Ruth Porat stated last month that most of the advertisers that boycotted the company had since returned.
Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News covering issues of free speech and online censorship. Follow him on Twitter @LucasNolan_ or email him at lnolan@breitbart.com.