If you have received a YouTube strike before and you don’t understand what it means or you hear some content creators talking about YouTube strikes and you want to understand what it means or how to avoid it then this article should be of interest to you. YouTube strikes could mean trouble for you if you don’t understand how to avoid it.

First off, YouTube tells you how to behave as a content creator on this platform through community guidelines. They help to keep it fun and enjoyable for everyone across the world that watches videos. As a YouTuber, if your content violates the YouTube community guidelines, you will get a warning. The next time you violate them, your video channel will get a strike against it. Each strike only expires 90 days after it is issued.

If you feel a strike is unjustified you can appeal against it. There is a provision for such appeal on the platform. When you reach three strikes, YouTube permanently removes your channel.

YouTube Community Guideline 3 strikes basics

Here’s how YouTube goes about detecting contents to strike. YouTube relies on smart detection technology and user flagging to flag content for reviewers. When you get a strike, you are informed via email. It will tell you what content was removed and why it violated the community guidelines.

The first violation is a warning without any penalties, but it remains on your channel. If you violate the guidelines again after getting a warning, you will get a strike. For a week, you won’t be able to upload any new content. If you receive a second strike before the first strike has expired, you won’t be able to upload content for two weeks.

If you receive a third strike before the other strikes expire, YouTube will permanently remove your account. You have seven days before your channel is disabled.

Your channel stays live, and you can access it to try and resolve your strikes.

YouTube ‘3 strikes’ Restriction – What is it? What happens when you get a strike?

YouTube First strike

When you get a strike, you can’t do the following for a week:

• Upload videos, stories or live streams
• Schedule a video to become public
• Create custom thumbnails, community posts or a premiere
• Add a trailer to a live stream or upcoming premiere
• Create and edit playlists or add collaborators
• Add or remove playlists from the watch page

At the end of the week, your full privileges are restored automatically. However, the strike remains on your channel for 90 days.

YouTube Second strike

It is essential you avoid getting a second strike because this means more trouble for your channel. If you get a second strike within the 90 day period, you can’t post content for two weeks. If there aren’t any issues, your full privileges are restored automatically after two weeks.

Each strike still remains on your channel for 90 days.

YouTube Third strike

This is real trouble. When you get three strikes within a 90 day period your channel is permanently removed. Even if you delete content it does not remove a strike.

YouTube Content Restrictions – content you can’t post on YouTube

The following content violates YouTube community guidelines and will result in a warning the first time you violate them, and thereafter your channel will get strikes.

Spam and deceptive practices: YouTube community policy is built on trust. This is why any content designed to defraud, mislead or scam other users isn’t allowed.

Sensitive content: YouTube wants to protect creators and viewers, particularly minors.

For this reason, it has nudity and sexual content policies, a thumbnail policy, a child safety policy, and a suicide and self-harm policy.

Violent or dangerous content: Malicious attacks, graphic violence, hate speech and any content that promotes dangerous or harmful behavior isn’t allowed on YouTube.

This includes cyberbullying and predatory behavior.

Regulated goods: You are prohibited from selling certain goods on YouTube, such as firearms and illegal goods.

Misinformation: Certain types of misleading content aren’t allowed on YouTube. This includes types of information that can cause harm in the real world, such as content that interferes with the democratic process or promotes harmful treatments or remedies.

For example, YouTube has election misinformation policies, COVID-19 misinformation policies and vaccine misinformation policies.

YouTube restricted content mode: YouTube has an optional setting called ‘restricted mode’ that blocks some content from being shown.

This may be set up on family computers to prevent minors from watching content that is unsuitable for them.

Finally!

As a content creator on YouTube you need to understand how to avoid getting strikes on your channel. This could affect your channel especially if you get a second and a third strike. It is better you read and adhere to YouTube community guidelines to avoid getting strikes in the first place.