YouTube is making a big change to how it handles strong profanity at the beginning of videos. For over two years, using strong language (ex. f*ck) in the first 7 seconds of your video would usually trigger limited ads, also known as the yellow dollar sign. This means your video is considered unsuitable for most advertisers and will earn less revenue as a result.
This rule was originally introduced to align with traditional broadcast standards, similar to what you might expect on TV or radio. But now, as advertisers become more comfortable with online content and YouTube continues to expand its ad filter options, the platform is softening this policy.
So what does this mean for you? Strong profanity is now allowed in the first 7 seconds of your video without automatically getting limited ads. The word "automatically" is important here. This is not a complete free pass. YouTube can still limit monetization depending on how often strong language is used and in what context.
YouTube has not shared specific examples or numbers around what crosses the line. It is safe to assume that one strong word may be fine, but using multiple in the first few seconds will likely still impact your ad revenue.
Also worth noting, this update only affects the beginning of your video. Strong profanity used throughout the rest of your content can still trigger limited ads. So staying mindful throughout is still important.
This is a step in a more flexible direction and gives creators a bit more freedom. But for now, we suggest playing it safe and keeping strong language to a minimum, especially early on in the video.
Here’s a quick guidelines breakdown to keep in mind for your next video:
- Allowed: Strong or moderate profanity in the first 7 seconds is now eligible for full ad revenue (green icon).
- Not Allowed: Profanity in the title or thumbnail, regardless of placement in video - this triggers limited monetization (yellow or no ads).
- Not Allowed: Frequent strong profanity throughout the video - especially compilations or repetitive usage - may result in demonetization or restricted ad serving.
- Not Allowed: Extreme derogatory language or slurs are still prohibited and result in no ad revenue.
If you have any questions about this update or anything else related to YouTube, feel free to reach out.
