Over the past few years, YouTube has tightened its rules for kids' content, and let’s be honest—keeping up with these changes can be tough. The goal is to make the platform safer for kids, but for creators, it means being extra careful to avoid breaking the rules.
Over the past few years, YouTube has tightened its rules for kids' content, and let’s be honest—keeping up with these changes can be tough. The goal is to make the platform safer for kids, but for creators, it means being extra careful to avoid breaking the rules.
At AIR Media-Tech, we’ve spent years helping kids’ channels grow faster and earn more. We understand your challenges, from navigating YouTube’s policies to unlocking the channel’s full potential. If your channel’s growth has plateaued and you’re unsure how to fix it, contact us for an audit. We’ll pinpoint the issues slowing your channel and create a strategy to boost its performance.
Now, let’s dive into how you can ensure your YouTube Kids content stays within YouTube’s community guidelines.
The Basics: Understanding YouTube Kids Policies
YouTube’s policies for children’s content revolve around safety, transparency, and compliance with regulations like COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act). These guidelines impact everything from the themes of your videos to how they are monetized. Failing to follow them can result in strikes, demonetization, or even channel termination.
Here’s what you need to keep in mind (some of these you probably already know):
- All content must be suitable for children under 13 years old.
- Avoid clickbait thumbnails or titles.
- Anything remotely violent, scary, or inappropriate is off-limits.
- Ads must comply with COPPA regulations and not target personal data.
- Mark your videos as “made for kids” if they meet the criteria.
But these are just basic, smartly written rules. The real limitation is often hiding in context and is harder to spot if you are not an expert who knows how they work in practice. Most of the time, creators violate guidelines unintentionally, only to face severe consequences later. To illustrate how AIR Media-Tech helps in such cases, here’s an example of a demonetized channel we worked with:
Our partner had monetization disabled due to a violation labeled “Deceptive, sensational, or clickbait kids content.” AIR stepped in and made strategic changes: we updated thumbnails, reworked titles, and adjusted many videos. After submitting an appeal with these improvements, monetization was restored.
Another case we had with a kids’ channel:
The AIR team fixed 223 Yellow Monetization (YM) issues on the channel by submitting appeals and working with the security team. We successfully resolved 205 YM issues, leading to a 65% increase in views, 115% growth in subscribers, 35% rise in revenue, and 51% more impressions compared to the previous month. Shorts feed traffic and recommendations also saw significant growth. Overall, addressing YM issues and optimizing traffic sources significantly boosted the channel's performance:
This shows how a clear understanding of YouTube’s policies can resolve even the most serious issues. Contact us to ensure your content aligns with community guidelines.
For example, here are cases of clearly clickbait thumbnails that may lead to demonetization and ones YouTube approves:
Even though the “shocking” images may increase your CTR at the moment, it is definitely not worth it in the long run. You are risking your revenue if your channel has many thumbnails showing exaggerated emotions—unnaturally wide eyes, open mouths, and over-the-top objects.
Now let’s break these requirements down further for different types of content: long-form videos and YouTube Shorts.
Long-Form Videos: Staying Within the Lines
YouTube has its own definition of high-quality content for kids. To keep your channel safe and thriving, follow these guidelines:
1. Keep Themes Child-Friendly
Stick to 100% safe topics, such as nursery rhymes, educational content (e.g., learning colors, shapes, or simple math), and fun challenges or games.
Example: Instead of creating a video about Halloween pranks, focus on fun costume ideas or safe trick-or-treating tips, instead of scaring the kids.
2. Avoid Dubious Characters and Themes
YouTube is cracking down on content that appears innocent but features inappropriate behavior or themes. Even if your content is meant as satire or parody, avoid:
- Violence or aggression
- Scary or overly dramatic content
- Mature jokes or innuendos
Example: Swap a high-energy “fight scene” between toy characters with a collaborative story about teamwork.
3. Comply with Copyright Rules
Kids’ content often features music, characters, or themes from popular media. Ensure you have the proper rights to use any copyrighted material. Use royalty-free music libraries or create your own assets to avoid copyright claims.
Did you know that AIR Media-Tech’s partners have access to Epidemic Sound for free?
4. Minimize Commercialization
Promotional videos negatively impact the channel's reputation, they demote the algorithms and don't get featured in the YouTube Kids app, which directly affects the channel's performance. Also, excessive promotion can make your content ineligible for monetization. Avoid product placements that aren’t disclosed and overly promotional tones.
Example: Instead of saying, “Buy this amazing toy now!” show kids enjoying the toy naturally while focusing on the playtime experience.
5. Label Your Videos Properly
When uploading a video, always indicate if it’s “made for kids” in YouTube Studio as this impacts ad formats, comments (which are usually disabled), and data collection practices.
6. Stick to Positive Messaging
Kids are impressionable and tend to mimic what they watch on screen, so keep the tone uplifting and inspiring. It's important to show positive and helpful behaviors. Encourage kindness, learning, fun, and friendship.
Example: End each video with a positive message like, “Remember to always help a friend in need!”
Want to protect your channel or appeal a strike on YouTube? AIR Media-Tech can take this weight off your shoulders. Our team has already helped thousands of channels restore monetization and avoid community guideline violations. Contact us to get expert support!
YouTube Shorts: Quick, Fun, and Compliant
Short-form videos, like YouTube Shorts, are a growing trend in YouTube Kids content. However, their fast-paced nature makes it easier to accidentally breach guidelines. Shorts are subject to the same community guidelines as long videos. Here’s how to stay compliant:
1. Simple and Engaging Themes
Young viewers are easily influenced. It's important to avoid shocking or deceiving them. What may seem obvious to adults, might confuse a kid. Shorts should be light-hearted and easy to follow. Popular ideas include:
- Quick DIY crafts
- Fun facts
- Mini-stories with toys or animations
Example: Create a 15-second clip of a toy train going through a cardboard city.
2. Avoid Overstimulation
While kids love bright colors and fun music, overdoing it can lead to overstimulation and complaints from parents. Avoid flashing lights and loud or jarring sounds.
3. Maintain Child-Friendly Visuals
Be mindful of what’s in your frame. Shorts should not include unsafe activities (e.g., jumping off furniture) or disturbing visuals (e.g., messy or chaotic scenes).
Example: Instead of showing kids running with scissors, depict them safely cutting paper during a craft session under adult supervision.
4. It’s Better Safe Than Sorry
If you're unsure about any part of your content, it's better to cut it out. Following the community guidelines YouTube enforces is crucial for keeping your channel in good standing and avoiding potential penalties. It's always safer to remove content that might break the rules.
Staying on Top of YouTube’s Policies
YouTube’s policies are constantly evolving, especially for kids’ content. Here’s how to keep up:
- Regularly check YouTube's policies on the Help Center.
- Watch your analytics. Drops in views or revenue may mean compliance issues.
- Join YouTube Kids creator communities to share tips.
- If unsure about compliance, consult experts like AIR Media-Tech.
Need Help?
Creating YouTube Kids videos that are engaging, compliant, and profitable can be challenging. At AIR Media-Tech, we’ve helped countless creators overcome roadblocks and achieve sustainable growth. Whether you’re struggling with YouTube policies, copyright claims, or audience engagement, we’re here to help.
If your channel isn’t growing the way you’d hoped or you’ve been hit with strikes you don’t understand, let us conduct an audit. Together, we’ll unlock your channel’s true potential.
