YouTube will enforce new policies or guidelines regarding harmful content, especially online gambling, starting March 19, 2025. This change is made to protect users, especially children, from harmful content.
The change involves a ban on content that contains URLs, hidden links, logos, or mentions that lead users to unapproved gambling pages or applications. Content that promises financial returns will also be removed even if the platform is verified by Google. In addition, content that promotes online casino pages or applications will be subject to age restrictions, meaning that it can only be accessed by users aged 18 and above who are logged in.
This move shows YouTube's commitment to ensuring that its platform is safer for various levels of users. In line with the announcement, the Minister of Communications and Digital, Fahmi Fadzil also announced that a total of 5,026 gambling websites on social media platforms have been blocked by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for the period 2022 to early February 2025.