YouTube Relaxes Profanity Rules for Monetized Videos: What Kenyan Creators Should Know

YouTube has updated its monetization policies to give content creators especially those in Kenya and across Africa more flexibility when using strong language in their videos.

Full Monetization Still Allowed with Strong Language

According to Conor Kavanagh, YouTube’s Head of Monetization Policy Experience, creators can now use strong profanity within the first seven seconds of a video and still qualify for full monetization. This update was confirmed in a video announcement shared by YouTube.

The change aims to better reflect broadcast standards and allow advertisers to make informed decisions about which content to support. “Advertisers expected ads on YouTube to have distance between profanity and the ad that just served,” Kavanagh explained.

Why This Matters to Kenyan YouTubers

Kenyan content creators, especially those producing comedy, commentary, or street content, often struggle with demonetization over minor language issues. This relaxed policy gives them breathing room to express themselves more freely without compromising earnings.

However, this isn’t a free pass to fill videos with strong language. YouTube has clarified that this update is more about changing expectations and creating transparency between advertisers and creators.

What Counts as Profanity?

YouTube has provided a breakdown of what it considers profanity:

• Moderate profanity: Words like “asshole” fall into this category.
• Strong profanity: Includes words like “f*ck” and other harsh swears.

Using these words in your video’s **first 7 seconds** no longer leads to automatic demonetization. However, profanity used in **thumbnails, titles, or subtitles** can still result in limited ad revenue.

Important Limits Still Apply

While swearing is now more tolerable, creators should avoid excessive or repeated use of strong language. For instance, a compilation video of characters swearing throughout an episode still violates YouTube’s advertiser-friendly guidelines.

Watch YouTube’s Policy Update Video

You can watch the official update and detailed explanation in the video below:

This update is a welcome shift for Kenyan creators who rely on ad revenue to sustain their channels. With more clarity and flexibility, it’s now easier to strike a balance between creative expression and monetization guidelines.