YouTube has once again reversed course on its controversial profanity policy, after announcing earlier this year that its new rules introduced in November had taken a “stricter approach” than originally intended. As a result, in January, the video-sharing service said it would modify the rules accordingly. Now this week, YouTube has said it will review videos from creators who had their monetization affected by the November changes.
“We’ve updated our guidelines regarding Inappropriate language. Profanity (for example, the f-word) used in the first 7 seconds or majority of the video may earn limited ad revenue rather than no ad revenue, as previously announced below. Usage of words like ‘bitch,’ ‘douchebag,’ ‘a**hole’ and ‘s**t’ in the video content is eligible for green icons. Profanity used in the first 8-15 seconds may now earn ad revenue. We’ve also clarified our guidance on how profanity in music is treated; strong profanity used in background music, backing tracks, intro/outro music may earn ad revenue,” the company announced on Wednesday.
There has been much discussion already about what these still vague rule clarifications may actually mean for content creators. More importantly, none of it seems to address the changing attitudes toward profanity in general. A question could be asked as to whether the power of profanity has been diminished – and thus is YouTube behind the curve rather than on the cutting edge of societal change?
Profanity has shifted in terms of acceptability in recent years. Profanity in social circles is more commonplace, where some subcultures consider them, ironically or not, terms of endearment for those in the same social circle,” said Julianna Kirschner, Ph.D, lecturer for the Master of Communication Management program at the University of Southern California.
In other (less foul) words, the prevalence of these terms has lessened the rhetorical power they once held. Content creators on YouTube and TikTok often use this “strong language” as punctuation or emphasis for an earlier stated point.
Source: Forbes
In other news – Watch how Costa Titch fell on stage and died #RIPCostaTitch
Costa Tsobanoglou, better known as Costa Titch, was a rising star from Mbombela, another great loss to the South African music industry.
Costa Titch first gained fame in 2017 with his hit single “Nkalakatha.” The song was a remake of the 90s classic by the late South African Kwaito legend Mandoza. Learn more
