YouTube monetization is a frustrating topic for many creators who discuss controversial or emotionally heavy subjects in their videos as a staple of their content style. It can be challenging to navigate the continuously changing social rules that are applied to these sorts of protective systems, so it’s important to understand the reasons behind YouTube’s monetization guidelines and how creators can balance their sincere messages with caution to avoid demonetization or unnecessary restrictions. While challenging, these guidelines aren’t created out of malice, but more so in order to protect everyone’s best interest.
Above all else, YouTube’s monetization guidelines can actually be credited to the needs of advertisers, who are a significant source of income for content creators on the platform. Advertisers seek to be certain that their brand is associated only with positive, safe content that they can be proud to be associated with, for reasons that should be fairly obvious! So, if they find their image getting tied up with harmful content that a viewer can mentally associate with their advertisement, they’ll pull their funding to avoid the risk. But how, you might ask, can we effectively make sure that controversial topics are all being completely handled in the most ethical, respectable fashion? Only with data detection that implies the possibility of safe content being recognized by an algorithm as harmful based on key identifiers, which is what makes this system particularly frustrating for certain creators. YouTube’s guidelines are implemented via such an algorithm, leading some creators to feel as though they’re walking on eggshells to keep their ad revenue.
However, this doesn’t mean that creators can’t discuss controversial or emotionally heavy topics in their videos. Ultimately, it’s actually about how the content is presented and framed, and whether or not the context of your message is an ethical one. Content creators can take caution while still pursuing their genuine message by following a few tips!
#1 - Understand YouTube’s Policies
This is an obvious tip that all content creators on YouTube (or any other platform) should bear in mind. Understanding the policies of your online stage will be vital for the survivability of your channel and overall social media presence. Being familiar and up-to-date with YouTube’s policies can help prevent demonetization and setbacks related to restrictions by ensuring that you’re following the rules before you even post the content! These policies can also change depending on necessity and the social climate that relates to advertisers’ success, so it’s a good idea to check back frequently, especially if you begin to see changes in your content’s performance or permissions.
#2 - Use Language Carefully
The language, as well as the context of the language, can greatly affect its monetization status. Creators need to be mindful in their usage of profanity, hate speech, or words that are meant to shock or anger anyone. The aim should instead be to use respectful and thoughtful verbiage that gives respect where respect is due in a situation! You can still effectively send an authentic message without disrespecting anyone or enforcing hateful behavior and ideas. YouTube knows this—and it doesn’t show much mercy about it. The use of aggressive language is one of the primary reasons that videos get demonetized, so keep in mind that you’ll need to maintain a sensitivity to your audience in order to keep your content monetized.
#3 - Contextualize Sensitive Topics
It is a show of basic human decency to provide appropriate context when discussing sensitive topics that may incite strong feelings in real people with varying backgrounds and beliefs. This show of decency can mean offering trigger warnings or disclaimers at the beginning of the video, or contextualizing the topic in a respectful manner that’s empathetic towards those who are affected by the subject matter. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t necessarily take all that much consideration to achieve this; you simply need to use your discernment when speaking on things that people out there may have feelings about!
#4 - Avoid Graphic or Violent Content
This tip ties in somewhat with the previous one. Graphic and violent content can be seen as unhealthy, harmful, or disrespectful to the viewer and can thus greatly impact a video’s monetization status. Creators should avoid using too much graphic imagery or videos that may depict major harm to others. If a video does include graphic content and you choose to utilize it anyhow, be sure to appropriately contextualize and censor the content so that your intention and purpose is clear in the video’s overall message! Blur things that are inappropriately gruesome, offensive, or potentially triggering to the audience, and explain, in some way, a valid purpose behind bringing the content forward.
#5 - Consider Alternative Monetization Methods
If videos are getting chronically demonetized, creators can still generate income through alternative monetization methods like sponsorships or affiliate marketing. (Want to become an affiliate marketer for Avramify? Check out our affiliate sign-up page to learn more!) These methods can allow creators to have more control over the content they produce and the messages that they want to communicate with their audience while still making a solid income from their pursuit. Sponsorships also have the added benefit of providing extra credibility to the creator, which make it an excellent call with or without the monetization problems!
Takeaway
YouTube’s monetization rules exist to make sure that the platform remains brand-safe, in turn making it continuously possible for its creators to keep earning money while simultaneously causing this inevitable challenge in navigation. Even so, creators can take caution while still pursuing their authentic brand messages by understanding YouTube’s policies, executing a careful use of language, empathetically contextualizing sensitive topics, avoiding harmful visuals, or implementing other monetization methods such as affiliate marketing to get around the issue entirely. By considering these things you can effectively come up with a plan to wade through the guidelines and reach a happy medium that allows everyone to win!
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