YouTube has age-restricted some gun content and banned videos showing how to remove gun safety features. It’s nowhere near as impactful as finally getting American politicians to implement proper gun control, but at least it’s meaningful.
According to Engadget, YouTube has quietly updated its firearms policy to restrict content on automatic guns and homemade firearms to viewers aged 18 and above. It also bans demonstrations of how to deactivate certain gun safety features, such as features that limit magazine release, to everyone.
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“Beginning June 18, 2024, certain content showing how to remove safety devices will be prohibited,” a notice at the top of YouTube’s gun policy reads. Content will be age restricted.”
It’s unclear when YouTube made the changes, but they didn’t appear in its gun policy in late February. Mashable has reached out to YouTube for comment.
In a new section added to YouTube’s firearms policy, the platform stipulates that videos showing the use of automatic or homemade firearms, including 3D-printed firearms, will be restricted to viewers 18 and older. Films showing the use of high-capacity magazines, homemade silencers or accessories that simulate or convert firearms to automatic fire will also be subject to age restrictions.
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YouTube’s updated policy reads: “Sometimes content does not violate our policies but may not be suitable for viewers under 18.”
“These guidelines apply to the actual use of firearms but may not apply to the use of firearms in artistic content such as films. We may also make exceptions for public interest content such as military or police footage, news footage or footage. From The War Zone .
If you’re 18 or over, you can basically continue watching people use deadly automatic weapons on YouTube for as long as you want. However, creators can no longer post instructions on how to remove certain gun safety devices (which I sincerely hope no one does). The ban does not include videos showing the removal of safety devices designed to temporarily disable a firearm, such as gun locks.
YouTube’s gun policy also previously stated that users could link to sites that discuss firearms as long as the sites do not directly sell firearms or any prohibited accessories. The policy has now been updated to state that linked sites also cannot give away said paraphernalia, which is a nice loophole and how I learned about the horrific reality of gun giveaways.
