Gun YouTube creators are leaving the platform as the company cracks down on firearm videos
Some GunTubers are leaving YouTube altogether, saying they can't keep track of YouTube's rule changes.
Some figures in the controversial “GunTuber” community are fleeing YouTube after the platform began cracking down on machine gun videos and the marketing of firearms on the app.
At least four large YouTube channels devoted to firearms have announced they’re quitting the platform and moving to rival services with looser rules. And although many of the biggest channels are continuing to post on YouTube, they’ve been expressing concern that they’re no longer welcome on the video service after it tightened regulation of gun content.
YouTube, which is owned by Google, has for years imposed rules on gun videos. It has long banned the direct sale of firearms on the platform, as well as videos that show how to make firearms and ammunition.
But in June, it kicked off a series of actions that sparked concern among gun creators. One new rule bans content that shows the removal of firearm safety devices. A second new rule limits who can watch videos that show the use of automatic weapons or homemade weapons, so that only people ages 18 or older can see them, and ads cannot run on the videos.
And a third change tackled a gray area: links to sites that sell firearms. Since 2018, YouTube’s firearms policy has told people “don’t post” if their purpose is to sell firearms or to link to sites that sell firearms, but enforcement has been inconsistent. YouTube said it would expand enforcement on content with links to gun retailers, including landing pages to purchase a gun.
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