Youtube Declares War on Gun Channels!
YouTube has released a new policy that specifically targets gun channels. This will end up with many Channels either getting removed or removing a good majority of their content to try and stay compliant. Yet another bitch move from YouTube.
Policies on content featuring firearms
YouTube prohibits certain kinds of content featuring firearms. Specifically, we don’t allow content that:
- Intends to sell firearms or certain firearms accessories through direct sales (e.g., private sales by individuals) or links to sites that sell these items. These accessories include but may not be limited to accessories that enable a firearm to simulate automatic fire or convert a firearm to automatic fire (e.g., bump stocks, gatling triggers, drop-in auto sears, conversion kits), and high capacity magazines (i.e., magazines or belts carrying more than 30 rounds).
- Provides instructions on manufacturing a firearm, ammunition, high capacity magazine, homemade silencers/suppressors, or certain firearms accessories such as those listed above. This also includes instructions on how to convert a firearm to automatic or simulated automatic firing capabilities.
- Shows users how to install the above-mentioned accessories or modifications.
Report content that violates this policy
You can report videos that you believe violate this policy by flagging the video.
A new policy modification on how the video-sharing giant monitors certain content featuring guns has some feeling the pressure.
The new rules, announced Tuesday, include making it clear that YouTube will not host videos highlighting guns or some accessories such as bump stocks or magazines capable of holding more than 30 rounds for private sale by individuals. The Google subsidiary also said it won’t allow clips on manufacturing ammunition, guns, or suppressors or how to install or modify certain accessories.
“Their discriminatory policy would make at least half of the videos that I have produced prohibited,” notes The VSO Gun Channel, which as of Tuesday had 129,000 subscribers. Others, such as the suppressor-heavy NFA Review Channel, warned the policy would “effectively shut down all gun pages.” The sentiment was echoed by popular channels such as AKOU, Hank Strange, MAC, Tactical_SHT, The Daily Shooter, and The Gun Collective.
Spike’s Tactical posted that their channel was suspended Tuesday but did not elaborate if it was because of the pending new policy.
Some of the more academic firearms bloggers that like to stay out of gun politics such as Chris Bartocci stressed the changes may not be as ominous as they seem while IV8888 among others said they are “in ongoing conversations with YouTube to seek clarification on the new standards” which take effect in 30 days.
Meanwhile, Karl of InRangeTV — known to be outspoken…
