YouTube Loosening Age Gate Rules on Content Featuring Video Game Violence
If you make or watch video game content on YouTube, you know that the site puts an age restriction on who can view “violent” content. But, of course, we all know that video games are dominated by violence of one form or another. Great news if you are tired of these age walls on video game violence—they are coming down.
How the Changes Will Affect Content Featuring Video Game Violence
YouTube posted an announcement titled, “Policy enforcement update: real-world vs. scripted or simulated violence in video games.” In bold letters, the announcement states, “Starting on 12/2, scripted or simulated violent content found in video games will be treated the same as other types of scripted content.”
As a result of this policy change, “Future gaming uploads that include scripted or simulated violence may be approved instead of being age-restricted … We may still age-restrict content if violent or gory imagery is the sole focus of the video. For instance, if the video focuses entirely on the most graphically violent part of a video game.”
It is refreshing to see a content platform delineate properly at last between real-world violence and simulated violence in video games. Such should be a big help both to content creators and to audience members. People browsing on YouTube who keep hitting age restrictions could get frustrated and move on to look at something else. But, this way, they will have an easier time finding and watching the content they are interested in, and content providers can expand their reach.
By making this change regarding video game violence, YouTube is also making a statement. The company is refusing to conflate the world of pixels with the real world and real actions. And that should help combat the narrative that video game violence is some kind of social ill.
So, we are happy to see this change, and we hope that it lasts. If we hear any additional updates on the situation, we will let you know. In the meantime, enjoy the refreshing experience of browsing through video game content without hitting age walls left and right.