YouTube's updated policy on "inauthentic content" had some creators worried that reaction videos—where creators film their real-time responses to other content—might get swept up in the crackdown. But the platform has clarified that these videos are still in the clear, as long as they’re genuine and add meaningful commentary. Basically, if you’re actually reacting (and not just reposting someone else’s work with zero effort), you’re good.

Editor’s Note: Reaction videos are a huge part of YouTube’s ecosystem, so this clarification is a relief for creators who rely on them. The policy update is really targeting low-effort, spammy content—not authentic engagement. For viewers, it means the reaction content they love isn’t going anywhere, but YouTube’s still trying to weed out the lazy copycats. Win-win.