The dream of becoming a content creator on platforms like YouTube seems exciting, but what if all your hard work could be taken away in an instant without any warning? In a single night, you could lose everything, and what’s worse, you might never be able to create a channel on that platform again. This is a real threat, and it doesn’t matter if you have a thousand subscribers or a million. The reason for this sudden danger is a little-known rule called the Circumvention Policy.
In this article, we’ll dive deep into what this policy is, why YouTube is enforcing it so strictly, and most importantly, whether your channel is at risk. We’ll also cover the steps you can take to protect yourself and, in the worst-case scenario, how you might be able to recover your channel if it’s already been terminated. To be honest, I’ve never been so concerned about a platform policy before, and as you read on, you’ll understand why.
What Exactly Is the Circumvention Policy?
Before we get into the details of the policy itself, let’s first understand the word “circumvention.” In the real world, it means finding a clever way to get around a problem. On a platform like YouTube, it means ignoring or bypassing a ban or termination. YouTube has explicitly stated this in its policy guidelines. But what kind of ban are we talking about here?
We’re talking about channel termination. Here’s how the game used to work: Normally, a YouTube channel would be terminated after receiving three strikes for violating community guidelines. After termination, you would lose access to your channel and its content. To get your channel back, YouTube would give you an opportunity to appeal the decision. If you could prove that the termination was a mistake, your channel might be reinstated. This was the standard procedure.
However, many creators started to exploit this system. When their channel was terminated, they would simply create a new one, upload the exact same content, and start the cycle all over again. They didn’t even have to put in a lot of effort; a new channel could be created in minutes using the same phone and email. This endless cycle of creation and termination was what YouTube wanted to stop.
According to the new Circumvention Policy, if your channel is terminated, you are forbidden from creating a new channel. You are also not allowed to give your content to someone else to upload and share the revenue. Simply put, YouTube has closed all the loopholes for bypassing its rules.
Now, you might be thinking, “This policy has been around for a long time, so why is everyone so worried about it now?” That’s an excellent question, and it’s where the real problem lies.
Why Is the Circumvention Policy So Strict Now?
The Circumvention Policy isn’t new; it has existed for years. But its enforcement was not as strict because the technology wasn’t there to support it. If your channel was deleted for violating guidelines, you could easily create a new one, and it would take YouTube’s algorithms a very long time—sometimes even years—to detect the new channel and link it to the old one. This gave some creators enough time to make a lot of money before their new channel was also taken down.
But that has all changed. YouTube has integrated powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its system. What used to take years to detect now happens in a matter of seconds. Let me explain with a simple example.
Imagine you created a channel, let’s call it “Channel A,” four years ago when you were just starting out. You might have made some beginner mistakes and unintentionally violated YouTube’s guidelines. As a result, Channel A was terminated. You didn’t think much of it and moved on.
Fast forward to today. You’ve learned a lot, and you’ve created a new channel, “Channel B.” You’re following all the rules, and you’re creating high-quality content. You’re putting in the work, and your channel is starting to grow. Then, one day, out of the blue, your channel is terminated without a single warning. The reason? The Circumvention Policy.
The issue is that YouTube’s AI has become incredibly aggressive. The AI has detected that you are the same person who had a terminated channel four years ago, and it’s punishing you now for those past mistakes. It doesn’t matter that you’ve been doing everything right on your new channel. The AI sees that you’re attempting to bypass a previous termination, and it won’t allow it. This is why so many creators who made mistakes years ago and have now built successful channels are suddenly seeing them terminated.
So, how exactly is YouTube’s AI able to connect the dots and link your new channel to your old one?
The AI’s Tracking Methods: How It Knows You
When you create a YouTube channel, you’re using three main pieces of information that the platform tracks:
- Your Phone Number: This is used for channel verification.
- Your Email Address: This is the account your channel is created with.
- Your Face/Identity: This is used for face verification to unlock advanced features.
In the past, YouTube’s algorithm primarily relied on the email address to track repeat offenders. Creators quickly caught on and started using a different email for every new channel. This made it difficult for the old system to connect the channels, reducing the chances of a ban.
But with the new AI, things are much more complex. The AI can now process a massive amount of data at once, and it doesn’t just look at one identifier.
- Email Address: The AI will first look at the email address of your terminated channel. It will then check its database for any other channels created with that same email. If it finds one, it will terminate it without warning.
- Phone Number: The AI will then go a step further. It will check which phone number was used to create that email and verify the channel. Then, it will cross-reference that phone number to see if any other emails or YouTube channels were created with it. If it finds any, those channels will also be terminated without a warning.
- Face/Identity: This is the most frightening part. The AI will look at the face verification data from both channels. It will then scan its entire database for any other channels that have used the same face for verification. If it finds a match, that channel will also be terminated, regardless of who owns it or what content is on it.
Because this entire process is now automated by AI, what used to take years to track is now being done in a matter of seconds. By the time you create a new channel, YouTube’s AI has already set its traps.
Is Your Channel at Risk?
Based on the information above, the answer is simple: if you have ever had a channel terminated in the past, yes, you are at risk.
If your terminated channel had a different email and phone number than your current one, your chances of survival are higher, but you are still at risk. The biggest threat is face verification. Your face is in YouTube’s database, and it can be used to track you. The only way you can be completely safe is if you used a different person’s face for verification, a different phone number, and a different email for your current channel. Even then, you’re not 100% safe. YouTube can also track you through your IP address—if you’ve accessed both channels from the same Wi-Fi network, for example, there is a small chance you could be tracked.
The good news is that so far, there haven’t been many reported cases of a channel being terminated solely based on IP address tracking. But given how aggressive YouTube’s AI is becoming, it’s a possibility that we can’t rule out.
So, what can you do about this? Let’s talk about some precautions.
How to Protect Your Channel
As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” If you haven’t started a channel yet, or if you’ve never had a channel terminated, then congratulations! You are already protected. All you need to do is make sure you don’t do anything that could get your channel a strike or a termination in the future.
However, if you’re like me and you’ve made some mistakes in the past, but you’re now doing everything right, you’re in a tricky situation. But there are some steps you can take to minimize the risk. I’ve put together a checklist for you.
- Use a Different Email: Make sure the email for your current channel is different from the email of your terminated channel. Also, use a different recovery email for your new account.
- Change Your Phone Number: The phone number used on your old, terminated channel should never be used again for any new YouTube channel. It’s a good idea to get a new SIM card and change the phone number on your existing channel as well.
- Create a New AdSense Account: AdSense is a major tracking tool for YouTube. If your terminated channel and your current channel are linked to the same AdSense account, your current channel is at high risk. You need to create a new AdSense account with a new bank account and a new PAN card (you can use a family member’s). This might be time-consuming and frustrating, but it’s essential for your channel’s future.
- Use a Different IP Address: If you’ve accessed both your terminated channel and your current channel from the same phone or computer, there’s a risk. The safest thing to do is to get a new phone or a new computer and only access your main channel from that new device. Also, consider using a different Wi-Fi network or a mobile hotspot to ensure your IP address is different.
While these steps can significantly increase your chances of survival, they are still not foolproof. YouTube has all of your data, and it can use it against you at any time.
Because of this, I strongly urge you to diversify your presence and not rely solely on YouTube. Build your audience on other platforms like Instagram and Telegram. Create your own community so that you have a fallback if anything goes wrong on YouTube.
What If Your Channel Has Already Been Terminated?
If your channel has already been terminated because of the Circumvention Policy, you have a very narrow path to recovery. Appealing the termination of your current channel has a very low chance of success because, in YouTube’s eyes, that channel isn’t even supposed to exist.
Your only hope is to appeal the termination of the very first channel that was terminated. If you can get that first channel reinstated, you can then try to appeal the termination of your current channel.
However, if your first channel was terminated for a serious violation, your appeal will likely be rejected. This means that your current channel and all the hard work you’ve put into it are likely gone forever. In this scenario, there’s a 99% chance that your channel is not coming back. Your hard work has been erased.
The moral of the story is that you simply cannot bypass YouTube’s guidelines. The platform’s new AI is a testament to that. It will punish you for your past mistakes, and it will be brutal in its enforcement.
This is a scary thought for me personally. Over the past five years, I’ve created and deleted multiple channels. Even though only one of them was ever terminated, that single termination now puts my main channel at risk. The era of experimenting with new channels without consequences is over. The new reality is that you must focus on creating original, high-quality content and build a real, loyal audience.
Shortcuts might seem appealing, but they will always come back to haunt you, and this new policy is proof of that. So, let’s all put in the real work, create amazing content, and build a career that’s stress-free and built on a solid foundation.
Q&A
Q: Can I still start a YouTube channel if I’ve had a terminated one in the past?
A: Yes, you can, but it is extremely risky. You must take every possible precaution mentioned in this article, including using a different email, phone number, AdSense account, and even a different device and IP address. But even then, there is no guarantee you won’t be terminated.
Q: Why is YouTube doing this?
A: YouTube is cracking down on repeat offenders who continuously violate its policies and try to bypass its rules. The platform wants to create a safe and fair environment for creators and viewers alike, and this policy is meant to deter those who are not serious about following the rules.
Q: What if I didn’t create the first channel, but a friend did?
A: It doesn’t matter who created the channel. If you are associated with it in any way—either through your face, your phone number, or your IP address—you can be held accountable. This is why it’s so important to be careful and make sure you’re not linked to any channels with past violations.
Q: Is there any way to appeal a Circumvention Policy termination?
A: Your only hope is to appeal the very first channel that was terminated. If that appeal is successful, you can then try to appeal the most recent termination. If your first appeal is rejected, your chances of getting your new channel back are almost zero.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is based on the current understanding of YouTube’s policies. YouTube’s policies and algorithms can change at any time without warning. Always exercise caution and be aware of the risks when creating content online.
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YouTube, YouTube policy, circumvention policy, channel termination, YouTube AI, content creation, online safety, creator economy
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