YouTube has quietly updated its firearms policy to restrict certain gun-related content. Here’s the gist: Starting June 18th, videos featuring homemade or automatic firearms, along with certain firearm accessories, will be age-restricted to viewers 18 and older. Tutorials on removing safety devices from firearms are completely banned, regardless of age.
The prohibitions apply only to real-world firearms, not games or movies
According to YouTube, these changes aim to adapt their policies to the evolving online landscape. The increased availability of 3D printing, for example, prompted them to expand restrictions on homemade firearm content.
It’s important to note that these prohibitions only apply to real-world firearms, not video games, movies, or other artistic content. Exceptions may also be made for educational content deemed to be in the public interest, such as military training footage, news reports, or warzone videos.
This update comes after a watchdog group, the Tech Transparency Project (TTP), raised concerns last year about YouTube’s algorithm recommending violent gun-related content, including weapon modification tutorials, to underage users. Their investigation involved creating child accounts and monitoring their recommendations after watching popular video game videos.
The TTP applauds the update but emphasizes the importance of robust enforcement. While they view it as a step in the right direction, they question the delay and highlight the need for strong content moderation to ensure these new policies effectively protect younger viewers from potentially harmful gun-related content.
(Via)
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