YouTube disables comments on videos with children

In the coming months, YouTube will turn off comments on videos with children, except for a select number of channels. The measure follows a fuss about sexually tinted reactions to videos with children.

Last week YouTube already turned off comments on tens of millions of videos with minors and the service will continue to do so in the coming months. In addition, the reaction option also disappears in videos with older children if these images run the risk of sexually tinted comments.

A small number of channels retain the comment option, but they must actively moderate the comments with the tools that YouTube offers. In addition, the channels must demonstrate that there is a low risk of so-called predatory behavior. The goal of YouTube is to expand this number of channels as it can better respond to the risk.

In addition, YouTube is accelerating a new algorithm that recognizes and removes harmful comments and also promises to take stronger action against channels that endanger children in any way.

The measures are in response to the outcry that arose after the discovery of sexually explicit reactions to videos featuring minors, a practice that would fuel YouTube’s automated suggestion system. Large advertisers such as Disney decided to stop advertising on the platform.