The world’s dominant video-sharing service set its sights on Second Amendment-related channels and is targeting those who make a living supporting gun rights.
The Google-owned platform earlier this year announced a crackdown on content producers who focus on home gun making and installing bump stocks onto weapons. While this caused much concern, silent and parallel actions led to much more worry for these creators.
Concern arose over the strict enforcement of an earlier regulation banning the promotion of gun and ammunition dealers in videos. The Reload confirmed that YouTube is wiping out videos and even established channels that promote sponsors either through written messages or verbal references.
An unidentified company spokesperson claimed the platform is working with content producers to clarify its policies. “For example, 3D printing has become more readily available in recent years, so we’ve expanded our restrictions on content involving homemade firearms. We’ll continue to work with creators to help them understand this update and how they might manage its impact on their channels.”
The previous change, enacted in 2018, has been more strictly enforced since June and has significantly impacted several channels popular with the sporting public.
The platform’s Help Center explicitly warned against prohibited actions:
“Content intended to sell firearms, instruct viewers on how to make firearms, ammunition and certain accessories, or instruct viewers on how to install these accessories is not allowed on YouTube. YouTube shouldn’t be used as a platform to sell firearms or accessories noted below. YouTube also doesn’t allow live streams that show someone holding, handling or transporting a firearm.”
Any links featured in the video or mentions of sites dealing with firearms or accessories are prohibited. The platform only allows videos discussing items as long as they are not being sold or given away.
One top-rated YouTube channel catering to Second Amendment enthusiasts is hickok45. It reaches an impressive 7.75 million subscribers who make it a regular destination for news and information about guns.
The hosts, Greg and John, recently posted a video detailing how the platform’s controversial changes are harming their efforts to reach sportsmen:
“Essentially, the new policy that pertains to this video, and what the problem is here is that all sponsorships from companies that are either firearms companies or companies that deal in firearms accessories are a complete violation of YouTube’s policies.”
The hickok45 channel and numerous others face the dire consequences of not being allowed to benefit from sponsorships from those within the weapons industry who wish to reach their broad audiences.
YouTube’s enforcement now means that not just the video itself but also the channel may be deleted. All the work put in by these creators could evaporate instantly if they run afoul of the rules.
For hickok45, these sponsored videos constituted “probably 95% of our content.” This means either rejecting sponsorships or risking starting all over with nothing.
Per policy, YouTube places a strike on each video it deems in violation of platform policy. Three strikes within 90 days may result in the deletion of the channel entirely.
Many channels have hundreds of videos posted, any of which may be subject to a strike. YouTube explained that the company does not regularly issue strikes to content already in place before a policy change and that videos uploaded before June should not be subject to such actions.
As for hickok45, the creators still believe that their more than 2,700 videos on YouTube may be at risk. This is despite working with the platform to determine how to continue producing popular content under the new regulations.
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