YouTube will no longer unverify top creators as CEO says sorry for "hurt and frustration" caused

21 September 2019, 16:28

Nicky Idika

By Nicky Idika

CEO Susan Wojcicki apologised and reversed new YouTube verification plans after public outcry from creators like James Charles, Life With MaK and Jacksepticeye. Under announced rules, creators with massive followings were previously at risk of losing their verified status.

YouTubers were left stunned this past week after the platform announced planned changes to its verification policy. Popular creators like James Charles, Life With MaK, and Jacksepticeye spoke out against the decision to remove 'verified' checkmarks from the profiles of some hugely popular creators under new rules.

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Now, in an unusual reversal, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki has announced that the platform is scrapping plans to take away verification badges from popular content creators on the site.

On Friday (20 September) Wojcicki apologised on Twitter, saying that the company had heard "loud & clear how much the badge means" and also expressing regret over the "frustration and hurt" the announcement caused.

Wojcicki said that anyone who is currently verified by the platform will remain verified "without appeal". She also clarified that channels who reach 100,000 subscribers will remain eligible for verification. The only case that a creator with a large following may lose verification status, is if they change their name on the site–as was the case recently with Jake Paul.

Even then, such YouTubers can still reapply for verification.

Previously, YouTubers had expressed annoyance at what some called a "pointless" and "disappointing" change to the policy. Amid the controversy, YouTube explained that it was tightening up the verification policy to "help viewers distinguish the official channel of a creator, celebrity, or brand."

Frustrated over the announcement, some had posted screenshots emails they received notifying them that their channel would no longer be verified starting in October.

"We're writing to let you know we're updating the eligibility criteria for channel verification," the emails read. "Unfortunately, with these changes, your channel no longer meets the criteria to be verified."

Now, as Susan Wojcicki admits the policy change "missed the mark", creators can presumably breathe a sigh of relief.

What do you think? Is there a feature that you wish YouTube already or planned to introduce?