How to Monetize YouTube Videos While Avoiding ‘Made for Kids’ Restrictions

Many creators on YouTube are confused about the concept of 'Made for Kids' and how it impacts their revenue streams. The good news is that you can still monetize your content without falling foul of YouTube’s guidelines. Let's break down how to navigate this.

Understanding YouTube’s ‘Made for Kids’ Guidelines

YouTube has strict rules in place to ensure that children can browse the platform in a safe environment. This means that creators must mark their videos as 'Made for Kids' if the content is primarily intended for children under 13. However, if your content is not targeted at this demographic, you can still monetize it.

What Counts as ‘Made for Kids’ Content

A video is considered 'Made for Kids' if:

It is primarily targeted at children under 13. Its subject matter heavily involves children, such as educational content designed specifically for them.

It's important to note that content that caters to a broader audience, such as gaming videos, sports, DIY tutorials, music videos, and makeup how-tos, does not fall under this category. Such content is considered 'All-ages' and can be monetized without any restrictions.

Getting Approval for Monetization

To ensure your videos are monetized, you will need to meet certain thresholds: 1000 subscribers: This is a basic requirement for any YouTube channel. 4500 hours of watch time: Your channel must accumulate 4500 hours of watch time within the last 12 months. These conditions ensure that your content is gaining traction and that you have a significant and engaged audience.

Marking Your Content Correctly

When uploading a video, you need to mark it as 'Not Made for Kids' if your content does not target children under 13. Failure to do so will not prevent you from earning ads, but it may lead to scrutiny from YouTube's moderators if they suspect you are trying to bypass their rules.

It's important to accurately reflect the content of your video in the age targeting. Misrepresenting your content could lead to penalties and account bans on YouTube.

Common Misconceptions and Tips

Here are a few common misconceptions and tips to keep in mind:

Content for Young Adults is Still Allowed: While the video is not made specifically for young children, it can still be viewed by young adults. This includes everything from gaming videos to makeup tutorials and sports highlights. Accuracy is Key: Always ensure that your content description, tags, and video age targeting accurately represent the content of your video. False information can lead to removal of ads and penalties. Engagement and Quality: High engagement and quality content will help you meet the requirements for monetization more quickly, keeping your audience interested and growing over time.

By understanding and adhering to YouTube’s guidelines, you can continue to monetize your content without running into the kinds of issues that can arise from circumventing the rules.

Conclusion

Monetizing your YouTube videos is all about understanding the rules and making sure your content aligns with them. By ensuring your content is accurately marked and meets the necessary thresholds, you can keep your channel thriving and your earnings flowing in.