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How To Report and Flag Inappropriate YouTube Channels

YouTube aims to provide a platform for people to express themselves and share videos, while also maintaining a safe and enjoyable community. However, sometimes inappropriate or harmful content makes its way onto YouTube channels. As a user, you can play an important role in flagging this type of content to help keep the YouTube community safe. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to properly report and flag inappropriate YouTube channels.

What Counts As An Inappropriate YouTube Channel

YouTube has published Community Guidelines that outline what type of content is and is not allowed on the platform. Channels that repeatedly violate these guidelines may be terminated. Some examples of inappropriate channel content include:

  • Hateful content: Promoting violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on attributes like race, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc.
  • Harassment: Repeatedly targeting an individual across multiple videos in order to humiliate or intimidate them.
  • Harmful or dangerous content: Videos promoting dangerous or illegal acts that have an inherent risk of serious physical harm or death.
  • Sexually explicit content: Pornography or sexually provocative content made to arouse.
  • Spam, misleading metadata, or scams: Uploading large volumes of repetitive content or trying to artificially increase views, likes etc.
  • Impersonation: Pretending to be another channel or individual in order to deceive, confuse, or mislead others.

How To Report An Entire YouTube Channel

Reporting individual videos is useful. However, if an entire channel is dedicated to posting inappropriate content, it’s best to report the channel as a whole. Here are the steps:

  1. Sign into your YouTube account.
  2. Navigate to the inappropriate YouTube channel you wish to report.
  3. Click on the “About” tab under the channel icon and channel name.
  4. Under the “Stats” section, click the flag icon to open reporting options.
  5. Select “Report user” from the available options.
  6. Choose the option that best represents why you are reporting this channel. For example, “Report channel art”, “Report profile picture”, or “Report user”.
  7. Check any abusive videos you want to report and provide additional details on why you are reporting this channel.
  8. Click “Submit”. The channel will now be flagged for review by YouTube’s policy team.

How To Report Individual YouTube Videos

If you only need to report one or two videos from a channel that otherwise has appropriate content, you can report videos individually:

  1. Navigate to the inappropriate video on YouTube that you wish to report.
  2. Click the “More” icon (•••) below the video.
  3. Select “Report” from the dropdown menu.
  4. Choose the option that best represents the reason you are reporting. For example, “Hateful or abusive content”, “Harmful dangerous acts”, etc.
  5. Check the box confirming this report is accurate and submit your report.

You can also include timestamps showcasing when policy violations occur within the video to help YouTube review the content faster.

YouTube Community Guidelines Strike Basics

When a YouTube channel receives a Community Guidelines strike, it means content on that channel was found to violate YouTube’s policies. Strikes have implications for channel functionality:

  • 1 strike = No immediate impact beyond removal of violating content.
  • 2 strikes = Loss of ability to post content for 2 weeks.
  • 3 strikes = Channel terminated. Strikes expire after 90 days.

If you believe your channel was incorrectly given a strike, you can appeal the decision through YouTube Studio.

What Happens When You Report A Channel

  • Your report is anonymous. The channel owner cannot see who reported them.
  • YouTube’s review team investigates to decide if the channel violated Community Guidelines.
  • If YouTube agrees the content is inappropriate, videos will be removed and strikes may be issued.
  • If no violation is found, no action will be taken beyond removing flagged content that doesn’t meet policies.
  • Channels receiving strikes may appeal if they believe the violation was incorrect.

Why Reporting Channels Matters

By reporting inappropriate YouTube channels, you help keep the broader community safe and enjoyable for everyone. Policy violations often target marginalized groups, pose physical risks to viewers, or directly attack other creators. Reporting these channels is crucial to fostering an inclusive environment and maintaining YouTube’s role as an open platform for free expression. If you come across channels posting harmful, dangerous, or hateful content, please submit reports so that YouTube can fully investigate. Your efforts contribute greatly towards upholding the values and expectations of the YouTube community.

Other YouTube Resources

By understanding YouTube’s content policies, how to properly report violations, and what happens after submitting reports, you can help do your part to flag inappropriate channels. Reporting these channels helps keep the broader community safe and aligned with the values YouTube aims to uphold as an open platform.

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