YouTube lifts ad restrictions on strong profanity at video start

YouTube updates policy to allow strong profanity at the start of videos without automatic ad revenue limits.

YouTube has updated its monetization policy to allow the use of strong profanity at the beginning of videos without triggering automatic ad revenue limits.

The change, effective July 29, 2025, marks a major shift in the platform’s stance on explicit language and follows long-standing complaints from content creators.

Previously, YouTube would restrict or remove monetization from videos that included strong profanity within the first few seconds or featured heavy usage throughout. This policy was often applied retroactively, causing creators to lose ad income on older videos that were once fully monetized.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), YouTube confirmed the revised guidelines, stating that they now reflect modern advertising standards. The company clarified that videos containing profanity in titles or thumbnails will still be demonetized under the new rules.

Creators who previously faced limited monetization due to profanity may see those decisions updated automatically. However, YouTube encouraged users to appeal if they believe their content now complies with the updated policy.

This move follows backlash from creators over stricter monetization policies introduced in early 2023, which had tightened the platform’s rules on profanity and led to significant drops in earnings.

The update arrives just weeks after YouTube also announced a crackdown on unoriginal or repetitive content, signaling a broader effort to refine its content moderation while balancing creator freedom.

With this latest change, YouTube appears to be taking a more flexible approach to creator expression while maintaining advertiser-friendly standards.