Protecting creators, viewers, and partners is a core priority, and everyone using the platform plays a role in maintaining a safe environment. Understanding YouTube’s Community Guidelines helps ensure content remains appropriate and compliant with platform standards.
Content intended primarily for sexual gratification is not permitted on YouTube. Pornographic material may lead to content removal or channel termination. Certain fetish-related content may also be removed or age-restricted, especially if it is graphic, violent, degrading, or exploitative. Limited exceptions may apply to material shared for educational, documentary, scientific, artistic, or public-interest purposes.
Content involving the sexual exploitation of minors is strictly prohibited. Material containing child sexual abuse imagery is reported to the appropriate authorities, including organizations that work with international law enforcement agencies.
What This Means for Creators
Creators should not upload content that includes or promotes sexually explicit material intended to arouse viewers. This policy applies to real-life footage, fictional portrayals, animated material, video games, music content, and other formats.
Examples of prohibited content may include:
- Explicit nudity focused on genitals, breasts, or buttocks for sexual gratification
- Pornographic material or graphic depictions of sexual acts
- Masturbation or sexually explicit touching
- Use of sex toys in a sexually gratifying context
- Fetish content involving violence, humiliation, or graphic acts
- Non-consensual sexual content, voyeurism, or exploitative imagery
- Sexualized depictions involving minors
- Aggregated content designed primarily for sexual stimulation
- Content emphasizing intimate body parts in a sexualized manner
This list is not exhaustive, and similar content may also violate policy.
Age-Restricted Content
Some videos containing nudity or sexual themes may remain on the platform but receive age restrictions rather than removal. Factors considered during review may include:
- Whether intimate body parts are the primary focus
- Sexually suggestive posing or presentation
- Graphic or explicit language
- Actions intended to provoke sexual arousal
- Revealing or inappropriate clothing
- Duration and emphasis of sexual imagery
- Challenges or trends involving sexual acts
Age-restricted content cannot be viewed by signed-out users or anyone under 18.
Educational, Documentary, Scientific, and Artistic Exceptions
Certain sexual content may be permitted when the primary purpose is educational, scientific, documentary, artistic, or related to the public interest. Examples may include:
- Medical or health-related educational material
- Documentaries discussing sexuality or childbirth
- Artistic films containing contextualized sex scenes
- Newsworthy political or public-interest discussions
Context is important. Titles, descriptions, and surrounding material should clearly explain the educational or artistic purpose of the content. Content taken out of context and reposted for sexual gratification may still violate policy.
Third-party ratings and contextual information may also be considered when determining whether content can remain available with age restrictions.
Examples of Violations
Examples of content that may violate this policy include:
- Isolated sexual scenes clipped from films or shows for arousal purposes
- Voyeuristic or exploitative recordings such as “upskirting”
- Explicit sexual behavior intended for gratification
- Sexualized depictions of assault or coercion
- Fetish-focused content involving bodily fluids or degrading scenarios
- Modded video game content created specifically for sexual themes
- Playlists or compilations organized around sexualized material
These are examples only and do not represent every possible violation.
What Happens if the Policy Is Violated
If content violates these guidelines, YouTube may remove the content and notify the creator by email. Unsafe or policy-violating links may also be removed, including links embedded in videos or metadata.
First-time violations often result in a warning without immediate penalties. Creators may sometimes complete policy training that allows the warning to expire after 90 days. Repeated violations within that period can lead to strikes.
Channels receiving three strikes within 90 days may face termination. Severe abuse, repeated violations, or channels primarily dedicated to prohibited content may also be permanently removed. Repeat offenders may lose access to future policy training programs.
