Amid blowback from marketers upset about ads being placed on videos deemed inappropriate, YouTube is now taking steps to help creators better understand video ad guidelines for content.
For starters, YouTube has updated is advertising-friendly guidelines for its creator community.
“While it’s not possible for us to cover every video scenario, we hope this additional information will provide you with more insight into the types of content that brands have told us they don’t want to advertise against and help you to make more informed content decisions. We know our systems aren’t perfect and we’re also working to further improve your ability to appeal impacted videos,” the company wrote in a blog post.
Among the types of content listed as not eligible for advertising are controversial issues and sensitive events; drugs and dangerous products or substances; harmful or dangerous acts; sexually suggestive content; and violence.
Newly add content types include hateful content; inappropriate language; incendiary or demeaning content; and inappropriate use of family entertainment characters, which specifically states that those characters cannot be depicted engaging in “violent, sexual, vile, or otherwise inappropriate behavior, even if done for comedic or satirical purposes.”
YouTube also announced the launch of the Creator Academy, which is geared toward helping creators make their content appealing for a broad range of advertisers.
“We hope these new policies and guidelines provide additional information you can use to make the right decisions for your content,” the company wrote. “Thank you for being patient with us as we work to improve the ecosystem for creators, advertisers and users.”
Related: YouTube TV could be boon to YouTube content creators
YouTube’s move to increase transparency for its creators comes after the company recently revamped other guidelines for advertisers to help quell the backlash. In March, YouTube announced it would be taking a tougher stance on hate speech, strengthening advertiser controls for video and display ads, accelerating the appeals process for demonetized videos, adding new protections for creators in its YouTube Partner Program, and restating its commitment to diversity.