Users are voicing their concerns towards YouTube, alleging that the video-platform is secretively eliminating restricted content from search results by activating the ‘restricted mode’ feature automatically.
Over the past year, YouTube has introduced several contentious updates to its platform. One such update was the implementation of an AI-driven age-verification system for a select group of users in August, which subsequently drew criticism. Moreover, there was controversy over an experiment conducted by YouTube, where AI technology was used to modify YouTube Shorts without notifying the creators prior to the changes.
In September, the site encountered criticism yet again due to a significant change in its search results. At the start of the month, users started expressing concerns as their content failed to appear when searched for, leading to a dramatic drop in views.
Through a thorough investigation, it was uncovered that YouTube had been activating ‘restricted mode’ for numerous users, a feature that excludes any content tagged as possibly inappropriate or sensitive.
As a fellow gaming enthusiast, let me warn you that some content might be labeled as ‘mature’ due to adult language, intense violence, or suggestive topics. YouTubers use both humans and machines to identify these types of videos and mark them accordingly. So, always keep an eye out!
Well, it’s no secret that a large portion of popular content on YouTube is gaming-related or includes explicit language and mature topics, seeing as many of the top content creators are gamers themselves.
YouTube users sound off over alleged auto-restricted mode
Users, both viewers and content creators, expressed their opinions online, stating that ‘restricted mode’ was activated for them without their consent. They reported having to navigate to the settings of their respective channels to deactivate it.
Streamer Azer Dugalic, who often collaborates on Twitch, gained widespread attention by publicizing his identification of the problem on X. In a post dated September 5th, he expressed, “We’ve suffered significant losses in ad revenue, potential sponsorship income, and mental wellbeing. Be sure to inform your favorite content creators about this issue so they can stay aware and avoid any negative consequences.
Public Announcement for All YouTube Creators/Viewers:
YouTube has recently implemented AI filters starting from August, and it appears to be significantly affecting numerous channels. Some users found these filters activated automatically, making a lot of their favorite videos virtually unseen. If you’ve noticed a decrease in the visibility of your preferred content on YouTube, it might be due to this new filter system.
— Azer Dugalić (@Azzapp_LoL) September 5, 2025
On the following day, Team YouTube released a rebuttal to another user’s comment suggesting that viewers disable restricted mode in their settings. The accusation was that YouTube was utilizing AI to reduce the number of videos available for viewing.
As a fan, I’d like to share some information about Restricted Mode. By default, this feature is turned off and it’s completely optional. Many places like libraries or schools often don’t enable it. Restricted Mode has been part of the scene since 2010, making it far from a newcomer in the digital world!
By default, Restricted Mode isn’t activated, and it’s something that many people choose not to use. This feature has been available since 2010, so it’s not a new addition. If your videos aren’t accessible in Restricted Mode but you believe they should be, please complete this form:…
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) September 7, 2025
They added that it’s beneficial not to have a Restricted Mode in the Studio dashboard. They’ve brought this up with their product teams regarding the possibility of it automatically turning on. So far, there appears to be no indication of this happening and most users on X have confirmed it’s switched off. However, they’re open to investigating reports suggesting otherwise.
We appreciate the helpful feedback that the Studio dashboard doesn’t have a built-in Restricted Mode. We’ve passed this information on to our product teams. At present, we haven’t found any indications that it automatically turns on. However, users on platform X are predominantly stating that it’s deactivated for them. Nonetheless, we can certainly investigate reports suggesting otherwise.
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) September 8, 2025
Even though some time has passed, these concerns persist, as the platform continues to face criticism. Within three days, it’s been subjected to more scrutiny, with users on X posting a now-removed Community Note on a YouTube Creators thread expressing appreciation for the team’s efforts, which hasn’t gone unacknowledged.
For many users, it appears that the default setting for YouTube’s restricted mode might not be as it is stated by YouTube themselves. However, when I personally checked my settings, restricted mode was indeed off on all of my accounts. It’s advisable to verify your own settings to ensure you aren’t missing out on content you’re interested in due to any potential oversight.
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2025-09-09 20:50