YouTube Updates its Impersonation Policy to Combat Rising Re-Use of Creator Content

YouTube is making a change to its impersonation policy so as to combat rising misrepresentation and impersonation within the app.

The updated rules would require fan channels to obviously state that they are usually not affiliated with the entity that they’re supporting.

As explained by YouTube:

“In the event you operate a fan channel, be sure you state so explicitly in your channel name or handle. It needs to be obvious to your viewers that your channel doesn’t represent the unique creator, artist or entity your channel is celebrating.”

YouTube further explains the more specific focus of the change, which is to stop users from re-posting other people’s content, and presenting it as their very own.

“For instance, channels claiming to be a ‘fan account’, but actually posing as one other’s channel and reuploading their content wouldn’t be allowed. One other example can be channels with the identical name and avatar or banner as one other channel, with the one difference being an area inserted into the name or a zero replacing the letter O, wouldn’t be allowed.”

The updated policy also notes that any violations may end in immediate termination of your account, versus the previous wording, which outlined a three-strike system for related penalties.

YouTube’s seen an increase in channels re-uploading content from popular creators, and presenting themselves as the unique poster, so as to construct a monetizable audience within the app. That trend is present across most video platforms, with TikTok and Instagram also seeing popular TV show clips and trending content re-posted again and again, as users try any way they’ll to maximise their audience reach.

This revised policy approach will give YouTube more leeway to ban this behavior outright, which could act as a much bigger disincentive for those seeking to use others’ work.

It’ll be interesting to see how, specifically, YouTube looks to motion this, and what impact that might have on its content ecosystem.

YouTube says that the updated rules will take effect from August twenty first, 2023.

You possibly can read more about YouTube’s impersonation policy update here.