YouTube launches ‘Second Chance’ program for reinstating some banned creators
YouTube has announced a new program called ‘Second Chance’, aimed at allowing certain creators whose channels were deleted to return to the platform and start fresh.
A second chance for some creators
In a blog post published on Thursday, YouTube explained: “We know that many banned creators deserve a second chance. YouTube has evolved and changed over the past 20 years, and we have also had several opportunities to improve with our community.”
This initiative primarily targets creators who were penalized during the COVID-19 pandemic or the 2020 U.S. presidential elections, particularly for disinformation. However, the program does not include users suspended for copyright infringement, harassment, or serious violations of platform rules.
According to YouTube, eligible creators will see an option in YouTube Studio (desktop version) in the coming weeks to request the creation of a new channel. They will need to log in with the account associated with their former deleted channel.
Importantly, this process does not restore the old channel or its content. Creators will start anew and must re-upload their previous videos in compliance with current policies.
Once their new channel is established and compliant, creators can reapply for monetization as soon as they meet the criteria for the YouTube Partner Program.
AI tools to support creator relaunch
This new program forms part of YouTube’s broader strategy to enhance support for creators, introducing new artificial intelligence features. These include AI editing and content generation tools for Shorts, as well as automatic multilingual video translations to help creators reach an international audience.
Thus, for many former creators, ‘Second Chance’ represents a unique opportunity to rebuild their community on solid foundations while benefiting from advanced technologies and clarified rules.
