False reporting – is it a problem on YouTube? It’s a question that a lot of users and creators want answers to, but it’s a bit more complex than a simple “yes or no.”
Why?
No one is really answering the question and it has been a main topic of discussion for something like ten years. YouTube adds the ability to report videos, so it’s something that they want the community to help with.
After all, the platform cannot monitor the number of new uploads every minute.
Users want to keep YouTube safe and spam-free, and the best way to achieve this goal is to allow users to be the platform’s moderation army. With all of these facts in mind, let’s dive deeper into the main question of getting banned for false reporting on YouTube.
Can You Get Banned for False Reporting on YouTube?
Traditionally, no you won’t be banned for a single false report. You’ll find that the community guidelines are complex, and while you may find a video to be offensive or inappropriate in some way, that doesn’t mean that the video is against the guidelines.
But what is not ideal is the following:
- Working as a group to mass report videos without substantiating claims
- Reporting videos frequently for no reason
YouTube’s moderators and systems are supposed to verify reports and take appropriate action. If YouTube were to remove every video with a false report, it would lead to mass bot farms abusing the reporting feature and causing legitimate creators to lose money in the process.
What may happen is if you’re a routine false reporter, it’s always possible that YouTube will flag your account or simply ignore future reports – we just don’t know for 100% certainty.
I recommend that you only report uploads that you believe are against community guidelines or that are so disturbing that they may want to remove the upload.
While guidelines can always change, we’re going to create an intense summary of the guidelines below that you can follow to reduce the risk of reporting videos without abusing the system in some way.
What Videos Violate YouTube’s Community Guidelines?
Before you report a video on YouTube, make sure that it actually violates YouTube’s community guidelines first.
Videos that violate YouTube’s guidelines contain:
1. Spam
YouTube does not tolerate spam. Videos that intend to scam, mislead, defraud or spam viewers aren’t allowed. Creators also cannot impersonate others or violate trademarks.
If someone is posting videos excessively or trying to scam people, report them. You’ll make the community a better place.
2. Sensitive Content
Videos that contain sensitive content, like adult content or self-harm, violate YouTube’s guidelines. The platform aims to create a safe place for all viewers, including children.
Even vulgar language, if it’s excessive and sexually suggestive, can violate the platform’s guidelines. YouTube encourages users to report videos that violate this policy.
3. Violent or Dangerous Content
YouTube does not allow videos that contain violence or dangerous content, including:
- Predatory behavior
- Malicious attacks
- Graphic violence
- Hate speech
- The promotion of harmful or dangerous behavior
Harassment and cyberbullying also violate community guidelines.
Reporting videos that violate this policy will help make YouTube a better place for everyone, so make sure that you report videos containing or promoting violence.
4. Misinformation
YouTube aims to be a platform where creators can express their opinions and unleash their creativity. But when content is misleading or deceptive to the point where it can cause egregious harm, it violates community guidelines.
For example, if a video promotes harmful treatments or remedies, people can get seriously hurt or even killed. This type of content is dangerous and should be reported.
YouTube also considers the following to be misinformation:
- Content that interferes with democratic processes
- Some types of technically manipulated content
5. The Promotion of Certain Goods
YouTube does not allow creators to sell certain goods on their platform. For example, you can’t sell firearms or goods that are regulated or illegal.
This may seem like an obvious thing, but you’d be surprised by the number of people who try to promote illegal goods on YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Report a Video on YouTube?
If you want to report videos on YouTube, you’ll first need to sign into your account and open the video that you want to report. You must be signed in to use this feature, and then do the following:
- Go to the bottom-right of the video
- Click More Report
You’ll then need to select the reason for your report and follow the prompts on the screen.
Can a YouTuber See Who Reported their Video?
No. YouTube wants to encourage anonymity on the platform and to do that, they cannot allow others to see who reports their videos.
What Happens When You Report a YouTube Channel?
Anyone can report a video. For this reason, flagged content isn’t removed right away. YouTube will review the content first before taking action. If the video violates community guidelines, it will be removed. If it’s inappropriate for younger audiences, it may be age-restricted.
Flagged content is always reviewed by a human, so if you accidentally report a video, it likely won’t lead to the content being removed.
