YouTube is experimenting with blurring thumbnail images for videos that contain “mature content”, including sexual themes, the company says.
In a post announcing the test, YouTube says that this function is being tried out to see if it helps users avoid accidentally watching “sensitive” videos that might be considered sexually-themed, but still follow the platform’s community guidelines.
YouTube does not allow nudity, porn or other “explicit content meant to be sexually gratifying” on the platform. Its policies state that “the depiction of clothed or unclothed genitals, breasts, or buttocks that are meant for sexual gratification” is also banned. Indeed, our own channel, which hosted no content against YouTube’s rules was also banned.
It’s possible to post some non-explicit sexually-themed content on YouTube. Also, from music videos to influencer travel vlogs, posting thumbnail images of sexy people showing off large swathes of flesh is a proven technique for getting clicks.
YouTube said that during its test, which was being rolled out to a “small percentage of viewers”, thumbnail images resulting from search queries that include sexual themes could be blurred. The video title, channel name and description will remain visible, and users will have the option to unblur the thumbnail image.
YouTube already has an optional function called Restricted Mode that screens out potentially sensitive “mature” content on the platform. The site uses video titles, descriptions, metadata, community guidelines reviews and age restrictions to help identify which videos may qualify as “mature” for this function.
YouTube has said that the thumbnail-blurring function is designed for sensitive content, but if it gets rolled out widely it could have implications for how videos are promoted on the site. It’s not uncommon to see suggestive images of bikini-clad women used for thumbnail images, even if the scene in question only features momentarily in a decidedly non-sexy video.
Many major social media and other content platforms have stringent anti-nudity, porn and sexual content policies.
Recently concerns were raised over Instagram banning posts and adverts for some women’s healthcare and wellness products have been raised, after they were flagged for allegedly being too related to sex for the platform’s rules.
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