YouTube Backtracks on Verification Policy After Creator Backlash

YouTube reverses its controversial plan to strip verification badges from certain channels. The platform now promises that current verified creators keep their status without needing to appeal.

20 Sep 2019 • 1 min read

YouTube reverses its controversial plan to remove verification badges from existing channels after facing immediate and intense backlash from the creator community. Originally, the platform announces a new policy that ties verification to both authenticity and prominence, which puts many current creators at risk of losing their checkmarks.

Following swift criticism, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki apologizes for the confusion and stress the initial announcement causes. The company officially updates its stance so that any channel that currently holds verification keeps its badge automatically without submitting an appeal.

Moving forward, YouTube plans to reopen the verification application process next month for all channels with over 100,000 subscribers. The platform continues to review channels to protect creators from impersonation, and notes that creators who change their channel names lose their verification and must reapply.

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