YouTube to Increase Age Restrictions on Violent Video Game Content

The video platform announced on Tuesday a significant update to its policy, which will lead to more video game content featuring “graphic violence” being age-restricted. This new policy is scheduled to take effect on November 17th. Once in force, it will prevent viewers under 18 years old and those who are signed out from accessing videos depicting games with “realistic human characters” engaged in scenes of “mass violence against non-combatants” or torture.

YouTube has outlined several factors it will consider when determining whether a video requires restriction. These include the duration of the graphic sequence, whether the camera zooms in on the violence, and if the violent act is the primary focus of the scene. The platform will also assess if the violence targets a character that “looks like a real human.” The official announcement, however, did not explicitly name specific games such asGrand Theft Autoor notorious sequences like the “No Russian” mission fromCall of Duty, leaving some ambiguity regarding their potential classification.

In a statement provided toThe Verge, YouTube spokesperson Boot Bullwinkle clarified that “certain content may be age-restricted if it’s non-fleeting or zoomed in.” Bullwinkle also noted that creators “may be ways the creator can choose to play the mission to avoid content that would lead to an age restriction,” and that blurring or obscuring violent elements remains an option for creators.

This policy revision represents an expansion of YouTube’s existing guidelines. Currently, the platform's rules allow for the restriction of videos with “dramatized violence” involving torture, severe injuries, or bloody deaths. However, a key distinction of the former policy was an exemption for fictional content, stating, “Generally, we do not remove dramatized violence when the content or metadata lets us know that the content is fictional, or when it’s apparent from the content itself, such as with animated content or video games.” The upcoming changes narrow this exemption for video games.

Bullwinkle affirmed the rationale behind the update, stating, “YouTube’s policies are designed to adapt to the evolving digital world, and these updates reflect our ongoing commitment to protect younger users and foster a responsible platform.”

Beyond the changes to violence in video games, the update also introduces new restrictions concerning online gambling. Creators will now be prohibited from directing users to online gambling content that involves digital goods like video game skins, cosmetics, or NFTs. This follows previous actions taken in March, when YouTube began disallowing creators from verbally mentioning or displaying online gambling services not approved by Google and started blocking approved online gambling content for users under 18. The platform now plans to age-restrict social casino content as well.

Update, October 28th:Clarification from YouTube has been added.

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