YouTube Clamping Down on Family-Unfriendly Content

Posted 12/03/2008 at 7:14am | by Paul Lilly

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In a move that would make FCC Chairman Kevin Martin proud, YouTube laid out several goals for itself, half of which had to do with clamping down on sexual content. Rest assured, YouTube has "been thinking a lot lately" about how to make the entire video viewing experience a more pleasant one, and here's what it came up with:

• Stricter standard for mature content: YouTube's pulling in the reins on censored material and in addition to pornographic images and sex acts, which are already removed when flagged, the video sharing site is also redefining what it considers "sexually suggestive." Among other criteria, any video intended or designed to arouse viewers will be considered sexually suggestive.
• Demotion of sexually suggestive content and profanity: Videos that fall under the above category and/or contain profanity "will be algorithmically demoted" from YouTube's 'Most Viewed,' 'Top Favorited,' and other browser pages.

The two other changes YouTube plans to make involve improving its thumbnails so that the image actually represents the video, and enforcing more accurate video information.

Like, dislike, or are indifferent to the changes? Hit the jump and post your thoughts.