YouTube’s Age-Restriction Conundrum: The Case of Balatro
In a bizarre turn of events, YouTube has been restricting videos featuring the indie game Balatro, citing “depictions or promotions of casino websites or apps.” But here’s the catch: Balatro doesn’t actually involve real gambling. The game’s developer, LocalThunk, has taken to social media to express frustration and confusion over the situation.
The Game of Balatro
For the uninitiated, Balatro is a poker-ish indie game that has gained popularity for its addictive gameplay and lack of in-app purchases, loot boxes, or online play. The game’s mechanics are based on standard playing cards and poker hands, but it doesn’t involve real money or online gambling. Despite this, YouTube has been restricting videos featuring the game, claiming that they promote casino websites or apps.
The Problem with YouTube’s Approach
The issue here is not just the lack of nuance in YouTube’s approach to identifying gambling content. It’s also the lack of recourse creators have in trying to explain the nuance to anyone. Balatro University, a channel dedicated to the game, has reported that 119 of its 606 videos were age-restricted, with some having been up for over a year. The channel’s host filed 30 appeals, but 24 of them were rejected, with YouTube citing only the videos’ “promotion” of gambling.
The Consequences of Age-Restrictions
Videos marked as age-restricted on YouTube are all but barred from showing up in general recommendation algorithms and have their lifetime views lowered by blocking casual viewers not signed in. This means that creators like Balatro University are losing out on potential views and engagement, simply because their content is being misclassified.
YouTube’s Response
In response to the backlash, a YouTube spokesperson told Ars that the videos should not be age-restricted and that the service is “fixing the issue and conducting a platform-wide review.” The spokesperson also noted that 5 out of the 100+ videos were removed from age-restriction, with the possibility of additional videos being removed in the future.
The Bigger Picture
The issue of Balatro’s age-restriction is just a symptom of a larger problem: the complicated relationship between modern gambling and modern gaming. As app-based gambling and sportsbooks become more mainstream, platforms like YouTube and Twitch are struggling to balance the need to protect minors with the need to allow creators to showcase their content.
Actionable Insights
For creators like Balatro University, the takeaway is clear: be prepared for a lengthy and potentially frustrating appeals process, and be prepared to provide evidence to support your claims. For YouTube, the takeaway is that its approach to identifying gambling content needs to be more nuanced and creator-friendly.
Conclusion
The case of Balatro highlights the need for platforms like YouTube to be more thoughtful and considerate in their approach to content moderation. By restricting videos that don’t actually promote gambling, YouTube is not only harming creators but also potentially driving viewers to more questionable content. As the gaming and gambling industries continue to evolve, it’s essential that platforms like YouTube prioritize nuance and creator recourse in their content moderation policies.