# YouTube Assessments Blurred Thumbnails for Grownup Content material

YouTube’s attempting out a small, however probably important replace which is able to blur video thumbnails for grownup content material inside search outcomes and associated shows within the app.

As defined by YouTube:

“We’re experimenting with a brand new characteristic that’s aimed toward offering safer search experiences for all customers. For search queries that ceaselessly embody sexual themes, the search outcomes might show blurred thumbnails. The video title, channel identify, and outline will stay seen. Customers could have the choice to unblur thumbnails.”

Basically, very similar to Google’s Secure Search, YouTube’s additionally seeking to present a greater filter for grownup content material, by obscuring what may probably be disturbing pictures in search listings.

“The aim of this check is to grasp whether or not such a characteristic helps customers keep away from by chance viewing content material that follows YouTube’s Neighborhood Tips however could also be delicate in nature. We’re rolling this check out to a small share of viewers.”

So it’s solely a small-scale check for now, however conceptually, it may give YouTube one other filter to guard unsuspecting, and youthful viewers from seeing offensive content material.

Which is vital, as a result of YouTube is probably the most used on-line platform amongst teenagers aged between 13 and 17, with round 95% of them recurrently logging onto the app. And whereas YouTube usually does an excellent job of limiting grownup content material, some does nonetheless get by means of, with customers extra just lately reporting publicity to undesirable graphic content material inside playlists that haven’t been marked accordingly.

On-line publicity to grownup content material is an issue extra broadly, with a research carried out by Widespread Sense Media in 2023 displaying that 73% of adlescent respondents beneath the age 18 have watched pornography on-line, with greater than half first seeing such content material by the point they reached the age of 13.

Once more, YouTube’s techniques and processes do usually defend towards such. However given the scope of the difficulty, any extra measures are probably a optimistic step, and will assist to restrict dangerous publicity.

YouTube additionally has “Restricted Mode” which additional limits content material publicity, whereas there’s additionally the YouTube Youngsters app, for youthful customers. However thumbnail blurring on probably inappropriate content material looks as if one other optimistic step, serving to to scale back undesirable publicity, amongst each teenagers and adults, within the app.