!
How things work
### Getting started on YouTube
Everything you need to create and manage a channel.
### Building your community
Tips & tricks to find, nurture, and build an
audience.
### How to make money on YouTube
Explore all ways you can get paid on YouTube.
### Growing your channel
Tools to help you create, connect, and grow.
### Policies & Guidelines
Get the explanations behind the rules.
### How to get involved
How we support, recognize, and celebrate Creators.
AI will unlock powerful new forms of creative expression for
creators on YouTube.
.
# Policies & Guidelines
As a YouTube Creator you’re part of a community, working together
to protect the community and keep YouTube a positive place for
creating, sharing, and watching. Everyone has a part to play in
making YouTube what it is.
## Why Policies & Guidelines exist
Our Policies & Guidelines are designed to keep our community
of Creators, viewers, and advertisers protected, and to
encourage Creators to take responsibility for their part in this
effort. They set out what is and is not allowed on YouTube, and
apply to all content across the platform.
YouTube’s Creator Responsibility Initiative
Why they matter
We believe that a broad range of perspectives is key
to a diverse, informed, and engaged society. That's
why we have policies and guidelines, ranging from
content to behavior to copyright, to help build a
safer community for Creators, viewers, and
advertisers.
Why you should care about them
We want you to have the opportunity to create,
share, and connect on YouTube. And we want to create
a platform where Creators, and viewers—feel
protected.
Our Policies & Guidelines are designed to create
a space that supports Creators, protects creative
ownership, and enables them to realize their
potential.
What it means for making money
Simply put, without policies there’s no way to
maintain a system that allows Creators to make money
through their channels. All monetizing Creators who
are publishing content on YouTube must already be
part of the
, and abide by our Community Guidelines and
Monetization Policies.
If Creators want to monetize their content by
running advertisements, you need to follow our
Advertiser-Friendly Content Guidelines, in addition
to our broader Monetization Policies.
However, you can use non-ads monetization tools such
as Channel Memberships and Super Chat on videos with
ads turned off, as long as they adhere to YouTube
Partner Program Guidelines.
## What policies do you need to know when you’re creating content?
YouTube policies are all about what content Creators can, and
cannot, post on their channel. Let’s take a look at some of these
key areas, so you know what you need to know.
* 01
  Community Guidelines
* 02
  Copyright
* 03
  Hate & Harassment
* 04
  Misinformation
* 05
  Kids on YouTube
* 06
  Monetization
Community Guidelines help make YouTube a welcoming
community for viewers, Creators, and advertisers.
Content that violates these guidelines is not
eligible for monetization, and will be removed from
YouTube.
Copyright is a form of intellectual property law
that protects original works of creative expression.
Creators should only upload videos that they have
made or that they have permission to use. That means
no one should upload videos they didn't make, or use
content in their videos that someone else owns the
copyright to, such as music tracks, snippets of
copyrighted programs, or videos made by other
Creators without permission.
### Tools
If your own content is being used without your
permission, YouTube has several tools you can
use to help protect your content from being
misused.
Everyone with a YouTube channel has access to
our copyright takedown webform. For most
copyright owners, the webform is the fastest
and easiest way to request a copyright
takedown.
The Copyright Match Tool finds full re-uploads
of your original videos on other YouTube
channels. Once a match has been identified,
you can review it in YouTube Studio and choose
which action you’d like to take (archive,
request removal, or contact the channel).
Just because we’ve found an upload that
matches your video doesn’t guarantee its
copyright infringement. It's your
responsibility to review each video and
consider whether fair use, fair dealing, or a
similar exception to copyright applies. After
review, you can submit a takedown request if
desired.
Continue reading
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### Fair Use
Fair use is a legal doctrine that allows the
reuse of copyright-protected material under
certain circumstances, without getting
permission from the copyright owner.
However, fair use is determined on a case by
case basis, and different countries have
different rules about when it’s okay to use
material without the copyright owner’s
permission.
In the U.S., works of commentary, criticism,
research, teaching, or news reporting might be
considered fair use, but it can depend on the
situation.
### What is a copyright strike?
When a copyright owner formally notifies us
with a complete and valid takedown notice that
their work is being used without permission,
we take down your upload to comply with
copyright law.
If your video was removed through a copyright
takedown notice, then a copyright strike has
been applied to your account. There are three
ways to resolve a copyright strike:
**Let it expire:** Copyright
strikes expire after 90 days. If it's your
first strike, you'll need to complete
Copyright School.
**Get a retraction:** Reach out
to the person who claimed your video, and ask
them to retract their claim.
**File a counter notification:**
If you think your video was removed by
mistake, or qualifies as fair use, you can
submit a counter notification.
We remain committed to our openness as a platform
and to ensuring that spirited debate and a vigorous
exchange of ideas continue to thrive here. However,
content that threatens individuals, or uses hate
speech, is not allowed on YouTube. We believe our
Hate & Harassment Policies contribute to our
mission by making YouTube a better place for anyone
to share their story or opinion.
Our Hate & Harassment Policies have been
developed with input by Creators and a wide range of
external industry & policy experts from all
sides of the political spectrum, and in consultation
with numerous experts in subjects like violent
extremism, civil rights, and free speech.
We have several policies in our Community Guidelines
that are directly focused on how we treat
misinformation on YouTube.
[Read the spam, deceptive practices, & scams
policies
Protecting kids and their privacy is a number one
priority for us at YouTube, and we have a number of
in place to help us and our creators to do this.
[Read what we're doing to protect kids on
YouTube
### Made for Kids
We ask Creators publishing content where
children are the primary audience, or where
the video is directed at children, to mark
their content as ‘Made for Kids,’ to ensure
you’re complying with the
[Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act
(COPPA)
and other applicable laws.
This is important because if you don’t set
your content appropriately, there can be
consequences on YouTube, or legal consequences
under COPPA and other laws.
To start earning money on YouTube, you first need to
apply for and be approved for the
. Every creator who meets
can apply for YPP, but you do need to meet some of
our guidelines to be considered.
If you’re already a Creator making money on YouTube,
it’s important that your channel follows all of
YouTube’s monetization policies. These include
[YouTube’s Advertiser-friendly content
guidelines,
,
, and
. They apply to anyone in, or looking to apply to,
the YouTube Partner Program -the program Creators
must enroll in to earn money on YouTube.
### Advertiser-friendly content guidelines
Want to make money on your videos with ads?
Then your content must also meet certain
criteria. These are the specific rules
regarding what content can run ads, run
limited ads, or should have monetization
turned off.
Our policies apply to all portions of a
Creators' content (video or live stream,
thumbnail, title, description, and tags).
Examples of content that may not be suitable
for ads are
etc.
### AdSense
The AdSense program is how YouTube partners
get paid for monetizing their videos. Make
sure to follow the
, and YouTube’s
, which are the terms and conditions that all
users and Creators agree to when using
01
Community Guidelines
Content that violates these guidelines is not eligible
for monetization, and will be removed from YouTube.
02
Copyright
Copyright is a form of intellectual property law that
protects original works of creative expression.
Creators should only upload videos that they have made
or that they have permission to use. That means no one
should upload videos they didn't make, or use content
in their videos that someone else owns the copyright
to, such as music tracks, snippets of copyrighted
programs, or videos made by other Creators without
copyright owners, the webform is the fastest and
easiest way to request a copyright takedown.
channels. Once a match has been identified, you
can review it in YouTube Studio and choose which
action you’d like to take (archive, request
removal, or contact the channel).
Just because we’ve found an upload that matches
your video doesn’t guarantee its copyright
infringement. It's your responsibility to review
each video and consider whether fair use, fair
dealing, or a similar exception to copyright
applies. After review, you can submit a takedown
request if desired.
When a copyright owner formally notifies us with
a complete and valid takedown notice that their
work is being used without permission, we take
down your upload to comply with copyright law.
strikes expire after 90 days. If it's your first
strike, you'll need to complete Copyright
School.
**Get a retraction:** Reach out to
the person who claimed your video, and ask them
to retract their claim.
**File a counter notification:** If
you think your video was removed by mistake, or
qualifies as fair use, you can submit a counter
notification.
03
Hate & Harassment
We remain committed to our openness as a platform and
to ensuring that spirited debate and a vigorous
speech, is not allowed on YouTube. We believe our Hate
& Harassment Policies contribute to our mission by
making YouTube a better place for anyone to share
their story or opinion.
Our Hate & Harassment Policies have been developed
with input by Creators and a wide range of external
industry & policy experts from all sides of the
political spectrum, and in consultation with numerous
experts in subjects like violent extremism, civil
rights, and free speech.
04
Misinformation
05
Kids on YouTube
children are the primary audience, or where the
video is directed at children, to mark their
content as ‘Made for Kids,’ to ensure you’re
complying with the
This is important because if you don’t set your
content appropriately, there can be consequences
on YouTube, or legal consequences under COPPA
and other laws.
06
Monetization
can apply for YPP, but you do need to meet some of our
guidelines to be considered.
the YouTube Partner Program -the program Creators must
enroll in to earn money on YouTube.
Want to make money on your videos with ads? Then
your content must also meet certain criteria.
These are the specific rules regarding what
content can run ads, run limited ads, or should
have monetization turned off.
Examples of content that may not be suitable for
ads are
The AdSense program is how YouTube partners get
paid for monetizing their videos. Make sure to
follow the
users and Creators agree to when using YouTube.
## Where to go from here
What’s next? How about exploring all the ways that you can make money
from your videos, and how YouTube is supporting Creators through
funds, scholarships, awards, and more.
  !
  ### How to make money on YouTube
  Explore all ways you can get paid on YouTube.
  ### How to get involved
  How we support, recognize, and celebrate Creators.
# How to get involved
Ready to unlock resources, learn new skills, or celebrate your
achievements? YouTube offers opportunities to get involved with
the community.
FEATURED
## 10 years of Creator Awards
We’re celebrating 10 years of Creator Awards with creators from
around the world. Congratulations to all the creators who have
reached such incredible milestones and we can't wait to see
the heights you reach next.
## Explore all programs
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## Awards
Creator Awards recognize your passion and hard work,
and celebrate your achievements and special
milestones.
## Creator Research
Creators like you have made YouTube what it is
today, now we want your help to shape its future. By
signing up for user research studies and sharing
your thoughts, you'll help us to build a better
YouTube for you, your audience and the world.
## CPM Shorts Series
Shorts onboarding and training sessions hosted by
Community Partner Managers (CPMs). During these
sessions, CPMs help creators explore multi-format
content creation, make connections with other
creators, and learn new Shorts features.
## Creator on the Rise
Creator on the Rise identifies and celebrates many
diverse and vibrant creators that emerge on the
platform everyday. Featured creators are highlighted
on Explore for 24 hours.
## YouTube Contributors
YouTube Contributors is a community of passionate
people who provide peer-to-peer answers and
education in forums and videos in various languages
and help improve our products.
## #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund
In 2020, YouTube launched the Black Voices Fund to
support and amplify Black creators via access to
fund and resources needed to thrive.
## YouTube Giving
YouTube Giving allows eligible Creators to fundraise
for nonprofits by adding the donate button to their
videos and live streams, so viewers can donate
directly on the video watch page or in live chat.
## #YouTubeBlack
YouTube is committed to helping Black creators build
a powerful legacy by empowering their growth and
supporting their financial ambitions.
View more programs
Interested in sharing your thoughts and helping us build a
better YouTube? Sign up to participate in research studies.
How YOU Can Help Build and Test Features for YouTube!
What’s next? How about a dive into how to make your content come to
life on YouTube, and how to build and nurture an audience for it?
  ### Growing your channel
  Tools to help you create, connect, and grow.
  ### Building your community
  Tips & tricks to find, nurture, and build an audience.