Firearms content creators raise concern after YouTube bans gun sponsorships

YouTubers with content focusing on firearms have expressed concerns online after YouTube's policy changes regarding the sale and coverage of firearms went live on June 18, 2024. In a video titled, "Bad News", the individuals behind the popular firearm YouTube channel hickok45, namely Greg and his son John, explained the troublesome situation to their audience consisting of 7.75 million subscribers on the platform.

Sharing what they termed as "unfortunate", the two revealed in the video uploaded on July 17, 2024, that their entire channel was at risk of termination and subsequent deletion as a result of the massive policy changes that Google made to firearm-related content on YouTube, specifically barring any linking to websites or sponsors that sell guns or gun accessories.

In a clip of the video, shared by DramaAlert on X, John can be heard stating:

"Essentially the new policy that pertains to this video, and what the problem is here is that all sponsorships from companies that are either firearms companies or companies that deal in firearms accessories are a complete violation of YouTube's policies."

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Popular firearm channel hickok45 shares news of potential "termination" due to content policy changes on YouTube

YouTube's new "Firearms policy", which started being enforced on June 18, 2024, has created trouble for well-established gun-related channels thriving so far on the platform. As mentioned on the YouTube Help Center, any content that intends to sell firearms or certain accessories through either direct sales or links to websites that sell such items will not be allowed on the platform:

"Content intended to sell firearms, instruct viewers on how to make firearms, ammunition, and certain accessories, or instruct viewers on how to install those accessories is not allowed on YouTube. YouTube shouldn't be used as a platform to sell firearms or accessories noted below. YouTube also doesn’t allow live streams that show someone holding, handling, or transporting a firearm."

As per the policy, any links within the title of the video, or in the description to any site wherein firearms or certain accessories are sold are not allowed. Only sites hosting discussions or reviews of these items are allowed to be linked, but they must not be selling or giving away those items directly. YouTube has also restricted anyone from holding, handling, or transporting a firearm during a livestream on the platform.

This may signal the possible end of "Gun-tubers", which are channels focused solely on producing guns-related content, as they will be unable to maintain major sponsorships related to their craft on the platform. Explaining this specifically in the context of their channel, hickok45, John stated:

"Any videos posted with sponsorships of that kind post-June 18th makes your channel subject to being completely terminated - strikes and termination, right? And, any video before that is subject to the video itself being terminated. So, prior to June 18th, the video itself is at risk, post June 18th, the entire channel is at risk... It pertains to probably ninety-five percent of our content. So, we are at risk of losing everything, and having to almost start from scratch."

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Hickok45 is not the only prominent channel to be affected by the platform's firearms policy, with streamer Darren "IShowSpeed" having to face challenges even before the June 18, 2024 changes took place.

The creator had managed to violate the policy on February 11, 2024, by actively firing weapons during a livestream as part of his visit to a shooting range in Las Vegas, Nevada. The creator did not receive a strike, but his live VOD was taken down by the platform's moderation.