In a significant move, YouTube has launched new measures to enhance the privacy of its younger users. This decision comes after the platform faced a hefty fine of nearly $200 million for breaching laws designed to protect children’s privacy online.
As of today, YouTube has placed restrictions on targeted advertising in videos aimed at children. Additionally, features like commenting and live chat will no longer be available on these videos. YouTube acknowledges that these changes will significantly impact child-centric channels due to a decrease in advertising revenue. As part of its strategy, YouTube will also promote its dedicated app, YouTube Kids, which offers enhanced privacy settings, reduced ads, and filters to exclude inappropriate content.
“We prioritize responsibility at YouTube, especially when it comes to the protection of children and their privacy,” the company stated in a recent blog entry. They emphasize their commitment to investing in policies and practices that bolster these protections. The changes introduced today are aimed at providing a safer experience for children, families, and content creators on the platform.
Last September, YouTube announced a series of modifications to safeguard children’s privacy, responding to concerns from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Among these changes is the requirement for creators to classify their content as suitable for children or not via YouTube Studio. Data from users watching content labeled for children will be treated as coming from minors, regardless of the viewer’s actual age.
Content categorized as “made for kids” includes videos intended for children, taking into account various factors such as subject matter, characters, themes, and related toys or games. To assist with this classification, YouTube introduced a new audience setting within YouTube Studio, allowing creators to clearly indicate whether their content is child-friendly. The platform is also employing machine learning to help identify children’s content, providing creators the opportunity to contest any misclassifications.
“YouTube has a wealth of creators producing high-quality children’s content, and these changes will significantly affect them,” the blog remarked. “We are dedicated to guiding creators through this evolving landscape and supporting our family-focused content ecosystem.”
Moreover, YouTube will treat personal information from users watching children’s videos as if it originates from a child. This means that for content deemed suitable for kids, the platform will limit data collection and usage, leading to restrictions on features such as personalized ads, comments, live chats, and others.
While these policy alterations mark progress for parents and their children, it remains crucial to oversee children’s online activities. The internet is rife with potential dangers, from harmful content to online predators, making vigilant monitoring essential.
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In summary, YouTube is taking significant steps to safeguard the privacy of young users and comply with federal regulations. These changes will impact content creators focused on children while promoting a safer online environment.
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