YouTube Demonetization: Why Does YouTube Demonetize Some Videos?

For both new and established creators, YouTube demonetization is a formidable threat. You might put hours into a new project just to find it flagged and demonetized. Or perhaps you hope to avoid this consequence altogether while starting your content creation journey.

No matter the case, following the rules is your best bet to continue earning from your hard work. Read on to discover what these rules are and the warning signs of YouTube demonetization. 

What’s Being Demonetized on YouTube?

Being demonetized on YouTube means your video can’t earn money from advertisements. This typically happens when a video doesn’t meet the platform's advertiser-friendly guidelines. If YouTube thinks some of your video might make advertisers uncomfortable, reviewers will flag your channel. This might involve:

• Withhold, adjust, or limit earnings
• Deduct from future earnings
• Suspend you from the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), which gives content creators access to support, resources, and monetization features
• Suspend or terminate your account

While it might feel personal, the purpose of demonetization is to keep the platform welcoming to everyone, including verified YouTube creators, viewers, and advertisers.

Why Do YouTube Videos Get Demonetized? 

If you want to monetize your YouTube channel, you must follow the platform’s channel monetization policies, which forbid the following:

• Harmful content — Content promoting dangerous activities 
• Hate speech — Videos promoting hatred against individuals or groups based on sexuality, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, or other factors
• Spam, deceptive practices, and scams — Content that misleads viewers for personal gain 
• Nudity and sexual content — Videos containing explicit sexual content
• Harassment and cyberbullying — Content that bullies or harasses individuals
• Jeopardizing child safety — YouTube video ideas that promote unsafe conditions for children will be demonetized

YouTube also has advertiser-friendly content policies, which prevent content creators from monetizing videos containing the following:

• Violence — Graphic scenes or content promoting violence to your subscribers
• Shocking content — Promoting YouTube videos meant to shock or disturb viewers
• Controversial issues — Highly divisive and sensitive topics 
• Inappropriate language — Excessive swearing and vulgar language
• Drug, tobacco, and firearms-related content — Videos that promote drug use, tobacco use, or the sale or misuse of firearms

How To Not Get Demonetized On YouTube: 6 Tips

Staying monetized on YouTube means making smart choices before and after you hit "Publish." Avoid demonetization with these six practical tips.

1. Stick to YouTube’s Guidelines 

Ensure your long-form videos and shorts adhere to YouTube’s comprehensive content guidelines, which cover various topics, words, and behaviors inappropriate for monetization. Regularly review the policies and consistently apply them to your creation process.

2. Steer Clear of Copyright Issues 

Using copyrighted content is a common pitfall that leads to demonetization, so edit your YouTube videos to avoid this. If you want to include something in your video, make sure you’ve created it yourself or received explicit permission to use it. Otherwise, opt for royalty-free music that exists in the public domain for free use. 

3. Mind Your Language 

YouTube is an all-age platform. If your content discusses mature themes, consider how to express your ideas respectfully and thoughtfully without resorting to harsh language that may get your video demonetized.

For example, if you're creating a video about the importance of mental health, address this sensitive topic without using language that’s inappropriate for younger audiences. You can do this by using medically accurate terms and focusing on positive coping mechanisms instead of including graphic descriptions or slang terms for mental health conditions. 

4. Monitor Comments 

The community you build with your channel influences whether or not your content gets demonetized. Inappropriate comments can impact YouTube’s view of your channel’s suitability for advertisers, so moderate the comments section regularly and engage positively with your audience.

5. Disclose Sponsorships 

YouTube requires content creators to let subscribers know when posts are sponsored, and not doing so can get you demonetized. To stay on YouTube’s good side, clearly disclose sponsorships in your video or description. This also helps maintain trust with your audience, who will appreciate the honesty.

6. Don’t Repost Content

Originality is crucial on platforms like YouTube. To avoid demonetization, don’t repost content from other YouTubers without adding significant original commentary or value, such as filming a reaction video. Focus on publishing unique content that reflects your personal opinions, insights, and brand.

How To Know if You’re Demonetized on YouTube

Every time you upload a video to YouTube, you choose whether or not to enable monetization in the upload settings. If you allow monetization, finding out if a video has been reviewed and demonetized is relatively straightforward.

In your YouTube Studio dashboard, navigate to the video you uploaded. Here, you’ll see specific icons that give you the lowdown on monetization status:

• Green icon — Your video aligns with YouTube's advertiser-friendly content guidelines and is fully monetized. 
• Yellow icon — Your video has limited monetization. It might not fully meet YouTube’s guidelines, which could make some advertisers uncomfortable. 
• Red icon — Your video has been demonetized, typically because it violates YouTube’s content guidelines.

Words You Can’t Say on YouTube

Not all words are created equal on this platform. YouTube’s no swearing rule means using specific words and phrases in your videos could halt income. 

Monetization guidelines are designed to create a safe and welcoming environment, which is why certain types of language aren’t permitted. Here's a peek at some of the words that might get your video flagged: 

• Swear words — Even mild profanity can be problematic for reviewers.
• Racial slurs — Derogatory language toward a particular race or ethnicity isn’t tolerated.
• References to drug use — Mentioning drugs or drug use, even in a casual or educational context, can get your video flagged.‍
• Harsh insults — Mean words and names can be red flags for YouTube.

How To Get YouTube Monetization Back

If your YouTube video has been demonetized, don’t panic. You can regain monetization by understanding why it happened and filing an appeal. Here’s what to do:

• Identify why the video was demonetized — Log into your account and navigate to YouTube Studio. Here, you’ll find the reason your video was demonetized next to the flagged video.
• Review YouTube’s guidelines — Double-check the monetization policies. If you think your video actually complies with these rules and was flagged unnecessarily, proceed to the next step.
• Contact YouTube — Appeal your video’s demonetization through YouTube Studio by going to your Dashboard in YouTube Studio and selecting the Channel Violations card. Next, select “Appeal” and submit a thoughtful and respectful appeal explaining why your video meets the guidelines. ‍
• Await manual review — A real person at YouTube will review your video against the platform's content guidelines. If they agree with your appeal, monetization will resume.

Monetize Like a Pro With Captions 

Creating content that adheres to YouTube monetization policies requires creative ideas, respect for guidelines, and ethical practices. By applying the tips outlined above, you can keep growing your audience and earning money.

Maximize your YouTube earnings by making high-quality videos using Captions’ creative suite of AI-driven editing tools. With Captions, you can add customizable text, dub speech into different languages, and create professional-level content for platforms like TikTok and YouTube. After posting, Captions can even extract the most viral-worthy clips from your videos to share on other social media platforms.