YouTube strikes down channels after investigation into “bizarre” AI content for kids

YouTube has removed several channels that were posting content created by artificial intelligence, following a New York Times report about videos aimed at children.

Videos and images created by artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly common on social media. You’re seeing a lot of them on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, where some reports suggest that around 20% of the content now consists of quickly-made, AI-generated clips.

The platform has pledged to reduce the number of low-quality, AI-generated videos, and has even started banning some very popular channels that were attracting billions of views.

Following a New York Times report, the platform has increased its restrictions. The report examined over 1,000 videos recommended to children and discovered the algorithm was suggesting strange and often meaningless AI-generated clips.

YouTube suspends channels over AI videos with “misinformation”

The report found that many of these videos featured distorted images – including characters with strangely shaped faces or extra limbs – along with unclear text and false information.

Following reports from journalists, YouTube removed five channels from its Partner Program, meaning they lost their ability to earn money on the platform. YouTube also took down certain videos that broke its rules regarding child safety.

YouTube now requires creators to reveal when they’ve used artificial intelligence to generate content that looks convincingly real—like something a viewer might think is an actual person, place, or event, according to a statement from YouTube spokesperson Boot Bullwinkle to The New York Times.

In late January, YouTube’s CEO, Neal Mohan, addressed growing user concerns about videos created using artificial intelligence.

We’re expanding our existing tools – the ones that already effectively fight spam, clickbait, and repetitive content – to also tackle the growing problem of poor-quality AI-generated content, explained Mohan.

The platform is facing criticism for using AI to moderate content. Many users claim the AI has trouble telling the difference between genuine videos and those created by artificial intelligence.

Several well-known animators recently lost their ability to earn money on their uploads after being penalized for featuring dinosaurs.

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2026-02-27 16:18