YouTubers must now identify videos that are made for children

In an email to creators on Thursday, YouTube revealed that YouTubers must now identify videos created for children using a new audience setting.

“Starting today, all creators are required to tell us if their content is made for kids in order to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act,” the company said.

In the YouTube Studio, creators can now change their audience setting according to how much content is made for kids on a video or channel level.

Creators can choose from “no” kids content to a “mixture” and even “alot of” content directed at children.

“We’ll also use machine learning systems to help us find content that is clearly made for kids,” YouTube further said.

The change comes after the company was fined for child safety violations earlier this year, where the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that YouTube was collecting user data from children.

Additionally, YouTube has also vowed to remove misleading videos that trick families into watching adult content.

Though the new audience settings are part of the company’s settlement with the American FTC, the change applies to all creators on the platform.

“We know this won’t be easy for some creators, and that this required change is going to take some getting used to,” YouTube concluded.

Feature image: Shereesa Moodley/Memeburn