YouTube launches “Second Chance” program for blocked creators

YouTube has announced a new initiative called Second Chance, giving creators who lost access to their channels the opportunity to reapply for reinstatement one year after a permanent ban.

According to the company’s official blog, the program is not an appeals process but a separate option for those who have already exhausted all standard avenues of review. Each request will be evaluated individually, with YouTube weighing the nature of the violations against its community guidelines.

“We're looking forward to providing an opportunity for creators to start fresh and bring their voice back to the platform,” YouTube said in a statement.

If approved, creators will be able to open a new channel, re-upload older videos that comply with current rules, and re-enable monetization. The program, however, will not apply to accounts banned for copyright violations, those channels remain permanently ineligible. Notifications about eligibility will begin appearing in YouTube Studio over the coming months.

The initiative coincides with a letter from Google to Congressman Jim Jordan, in which the company said it intends to review its approach to content removals, including material related to COVID-19 and elections, to make moderation more fair and transparent.