YouTube “Better Protecting Kids’ Privacy”

Youtube announced in September that new measures will be put in place to better protect children by removing data targeting features on videos identified as being aimed at kids.

“Starting in about four months, we will treat data from anyone watching children’s content on YouTube as coming from a child, regardless of the age of the user. This means that we will limit data collection and use on videos made for kids only to what is needed to support the operation of the service. We will also stop serving personalized ads on this content entirely, and some features will no longer be available on this type of content, like comments and notifications.”

A new audience setting was introduced in November for creators to use and set their video restrictions, alongside YouTubes own AI machine that will identify content and override the creators designation “if abuse or error is detected”.

The change was announced after the US Federal Trade Commission hit Google with a $170 million penalty last year as part of a settlement over an investigation into the privacy of children’s data on the site. YouTube says that it’s committed to helping creators “navigate this new landscape and to supporting our ecosystem of family content” via new assistance tools and prompts. YouTube says that it will share more information on these tools “within the coming months”. However it’s been a grey area trying to identify what is fine for kids and what should channels should be set at.

It’s a great move to protect younger audiences from being abused by those able to take advantage of the platform, however leaves creators in a bit of a grey area. It’ll be interesting to see how things play out and how well the AI tool can pick up on specific content.

Latest Posts

TikTok is continuing its push into livestreaming by testing a brand new feature called Fan Clubs. This update is designed to encourage more interaction between creators and their audiences, by turning livestreams into a more gamified and community-driven experience. With livestream shopping already booming in markets like China, TikTok is…
Read More
We didn’t make it to Cannes Lions this year. No rosé by the marina. No sunburnt schmoozing. But that doesn’t mean we missed the plot. Because beneath the yacht selfies and the sea of sequins, there were big signals. Clarity. And, dare I say it, a few quiet…
Read More
Social media marketing is a powerful tool for businesses to engage with their audience, build brand awareness, and drive conversions. However, with the sheer volume of content being shared every second, standing out requires more than just posting – it demands efficient, high-quality design. In today’s blog, we’ll explore key…
Read More