Other than longer 60 second ads, last November, YouTube decided it was time to “modernize” its ad-friendly content restrictions, allowing breastfeeding videos with nudity as long as a child was present.
While it appears to be a good-intentioned effort, some creators wasted no time turning these “educational” milking films into cash cows.
They're generating millions of views under the pretense of assisting new mothers, but in reality, they're just cleverly disguised links to their social media platforms and adult fan sites.
These videos show women demonstrating breast pumps while casually displaying their uncut breasts.
And, according to YouTube's new policy, they are not being demonetized for it; instead, they are being compensated with ad money.
Prior to this rule change, YouTube had a tighter grip on nursing content, demonetizing anything that displayed a visible naked area.
As long as the author includes the “educational” tag, these videos are now eligible to earn money.
YouTube likely felt they were offering a break to well-meaning moms attempting to help one other out, but instead, they've given producers the perfect excuse to test the limits of the platform's standards.
These creators are not dummies. They've found out that as long as they use the “childcare” title on their content, they can avoid YouTube's censors and keep the ad dollars coming in.
Not to mention that many of these videos are simply amateurish attempts to pass themselves off as instructional.
Some use AI-generated visuals, while others simply combine a few common scenes of a breast pump in use.
The main purpose is not to teach mothers how to pump—it's to direct viewers to their social media profiles on platforms such as Instagram, X (previously Twitter), and Onlyfans.
Some people even use it to promote an affiliate link. We even came across a breastfeeding tutorial that included a link to Surfshark VPN in the description. A very relatable product for a newborn baby indeed.
This previously deleted video’s channel, boldly named Only Fans, clearly isn't trying to hide anything.
Once there, it's not difficult to predict what occurs next: these so-called “educational” authors include connections to paid adult fan sites, transforming the intended childcare content into a profitable venture.
This previously deleted video’s channel, boldly named Only Fans, clearly isn't trying to hide anything.
The comments area for these videos says it all. Instead of mothers asking for breastfeeding tips, you'll see comments like “She's cute” and “I love her look.”
These videos have clearly drawn an audience that has nothing to do with childrearing, but YouTube's regulations allow them to thrive under the pretext of instruction.
So, has YouTube entirely missed the mark here? Actually, not entirely. The site has always battled with its notoriously unclear standards, and creators are constantly on the lookout for ways to get around them.
This isn't the first time as it also happened with the Elsagate scandal. Creators discovered ways to manipulate YouTube's algorithm with unsettling content aimed at children.
Now, we're witnessing a new trend of exploitation: milking films with millions of views while secretly boosting adult fan sites and profiles.