Something for Airsoft YouTubers who are dependent on getting their income from creating content the video sharing platform to be alarmed about. According to the Firearm Blog, some firearms channels on YouTube are getting demonetized permanently and that is a bad thing.

This nothing new as YouTube has started to bring the hammer down on firearms channels and other channels that are espousing extreme views. YouTube had to act as advertisers have been clamoring that their ads not shown on such videos and thus, released their policies on content featuring firearms which indicates how they will act on content that violates this policy.

The symbol above which indicates a video is demonetized, started appearing on videos on firearms content creator’s studios that YouTube deems to be In conflict with their firearms content policy. This means reduced revenues for content creators, but still they still generate income on videos that meet the guidelines.

Just recently, owners of gun channels received an email regarding their demonetization:

For those who received this notice, it means that whilst they can still upload videos, they will not have access to monetization tools. But they can reapply for the YouTube partner program in 30 days if they made changes to their channels that are in line with their policies. YouTube viewers can still watch firearms-related content, but the content creators, it will be much difficult for them to generate revenue if they cannot monetize their content.

Creating videos, especially high quality content, is no joke. There are investments done such as video equipment, editing software, audio equipment, location expenses, and even writing the story board for the video. For those with big followings they usually do it full time and if anything affects their ability to earn from their videos, either quality goes down, or they just throw in the towel and do something else.

There are other ways to earn revenues such as using Patreon and merchandising through links on the video description to the content creator’s own website. But still, able to generate and track revenues via the Creator Studio is a big motivating factor for content creators to continue making videos for their audiences.

Airsoft-related content are not affected so far. But airsoft content creators cannot let their guard down and plan for other ways to generating content. Novritsch is one example who is putting more effort on creating his own airsoft business. He is partnering with airsoft companies to create his own airsoft products that he can then peddle via his YouTube channel or other social media pages. At least if YouTube clamps down on airsoft channels and prevents them from monetizing their content, he is ready.

Better plan ahead if you want to earn on airsoft-related content.

Top photo by Rego Korosi.