What this means for you
If you're posting content
Don’t post content on YouTube if the purpose is to do one or more of the following:
- Sell firearms or certain firearms accessories through direct sales (e.g. private sales by individuals) or links to sites that sell these items. These accessories may include:
- Accessories that enable a firearm to simulate automatic fire,
- Accessories that convert a firearm to automatic fire, such as: bump stocks, gatling triggers, drop-in auto sears, or conversion kits,
- High capacity magazines or belts carrying more than 30 rounds.
- Provide instructions on manufacturing any of the following:
- Firearms,
- Ammunition,
- High capacity magazines,
- Homemade silencers/suppressors,
- Accessories that enable a firearm to simulate automatic fire,
- Accessories that convert a firearm to automatic fire, such as: bump stocks, gatling triggers, drop-in auto sears, or conversion kits.
- Provide instructions on how to convert a firearm to automatic or simulated automatic firing capabilities.
- Provides instructions on how to install the above-mentioned accessories or modifications.
- Provides instructions on how to remove certain firearm safety devices, such as a device that limits the release of a magazine. This does not include removal of a device used to temporarily disable a weapon like a gun lock.
Please note this is not a complete list.
Age-restricted content
Sometimes content doesn't violate our policies, but it may not be appropriate for viewers under 18.
- Content showing use of a homemade firearm (e.g. 3D printed gun), an automatic firearm, or any of the below accessories:
- Accessories that enable a firearm to simulate automatic fire
- Accessories that convert a firearm to automatic fire, such as: bump stocks, gatling triggers, drop-in auto sears, or conversion kits
- High capacity magazines
- Homemade silencers/suppressors
- Examples (non-exhaustive):
- Firing a 3D printed firearm
- Firing a fully automatic rifle
- Firing a firearm with a high capacity magazine
These guidelines apply to real use of firearms and may not apply, for example, to use of firearms in artistic content such as a film. We may also make exceptions for public interest content such as military or police footage, news footage, or footage from warzones.
Examples
Here are some examples of content that isn’t allowed on YouTube.
- Links in the title or description of your video to sites where firearms or the accessories noted above are sold. You can link to sites that discuss or review the items as long as those sites don’t sell or give away those items directly.
- Displaying a firearm with the intention to sell that firearm via private sale. This includes giving the seller’s phone number, email address, or other contact information.
- Showing users step-by-step instructions on how to finish a lower receiver in order to complete fabrication of a firearm.
- Showing users how to make a silencer out of a flashlight, oil can, solvent catcher or other parts.
- Showing users how to install a bump stock, or install a comparable accessory built to enable simulated automatic fire.
- Live streams that feature someone holding or handling a firearm, regardless of whether or not they are firing it. Note: this does not include firearms in video games.
- Live streams that feature someone transporting firearms from place to place, such as by carrying them or traveling with them by car, truck, or other vehicle. Note: this does not include firearms in video games.
Please remember these are just some examples, and don't post content if you think it might violate this policy.
What happens if content violates this policy
If your content violates this policy, we will remove the content and send you an email to let you know. If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may remove the link. Note that violative URLs posted within the video itself or in the video’s metadata may result in the video being removed.
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you'll likely get a warning with no penalty to your channel. You will have the chance to take a policy training to allow the warning to expire after 90 days. However, if the same policy is violated within that 90 day window, the warning will not expire and your channel will be given a strike. If you violate a different policy after completing the training, you will get another warning.
If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be terminated. Learn more about our strikes system.
We may terminate your channel or account for repeated violations of the Community Guidelines or Terms of Service. We may also terminate your channel or account after a single case of severe abuse, or when the channel is dedicated to a policy violation. We may prevent repeat offenders from taking policy trainings in the future. Learn more about channel or account terminations.
If you find content that violates this policy, report it. Instructions for reporting violations of our Community Guidelines are available here. If you've found a few videos or comments that you would like to report, you can report the channel.