YouTube is one of the biggest content platforms on the internet. The owners at Google are always searching for ways in which they can make changes and improvements to it. The YouTube Terms of Service are something that all users should be aware of. This is especially true for now – as the Terms of Service change.
What is changing?
YouTube has promised that these Terms of Service should not significantly alter the way in which users can access the platform or make use of the wider service. However, it is still wise to be aware of the incoming changes. This means that you could potentially make changes to how you interact with YouTube if necessary. These changes are:
- Facial recognition restrictions – an improvement to existing Terms of Service to ensure that they are explicitly clear. You cannot collect any information from users that might identify their person without their permission.
- YouTube’s right to monetize – YouTube has a right to monetize content that appears on the platform. This could result in ads appearing on videos that are not part of the YouTube Partner Program.
- Royalty payments and tax withholding – any creators that receive revenue payments will have said payments treats in the same way as royalties are within a US tax perspective. This means that Google will withhold taxes where suitable and where required by law.
How will this affect affiliate marketers?
The first point is incredibly important in terms of compliance. This is something that affiliate marketers should be focused on at all times. Likewise, the third point is crucial in understanding how a creator might receive royalties, and how it might affect any tax that they have to pay.
However, it is the second point that is likely to be of most interest to affiliate marketers. If they create and produce content on YouTube, either as part of an advertising campaign or for regular content posts, they are not going to have full control over the ads on their videos.
Ads on YouTube
One of the primary ways that many creators on YouTube earn revenue is through the monetization of their videos. This allows ads to be placed on a video – and creators can even choose where they place these ads. There are several types of ad options that marketers can place on their videos.
With YouTube adding this monetization clause to their Terms of Service, it means that there is a chance that some of a creator’s ad revenue won’t go to them but to YouTube instead, as YouTube controls this aspect of monetization. There is already such a fine line between advertiser-friendly content and demonetization, and YouTube is narrowing the gap even further.
Another issue that needs to be watched for – especially with iGaming content – is the nature of these ads controlled by YouTube. Are they going to be compliant with laws that govern the content of the videos? iGaming is a heavily regulated field. Those creating content for it needs to ensure that advertising content attached to it is as compliant as the videos themselves.
Take a look at these new YouTube Terms of Service, and see if they will affect your affiliate marketing content now.
