How to block channels on YouTube

November 16, 2022

In a nutshell:

Blocking a YouTube channel is not similar to blocking users on other social media platforms; viewers can still see your channel in search results
Blocking prevents videos from being fed to you by YouTube’s algorithm
You can unblock channels at any time

When your Youtube recommendations page becomes populated with channels you don’t want to see, or there are users that are harassing you in your videos’ comment sections, it’s probably time to block them. This article will show you how to block channels on YouTube and how to unblock those channels if you later change your mind.

First, you have to take note that blocking on YouTube doesn’t work like other social media platforms. When you block users on Facebook or Twitter, you won’t see traces of their posts anywhere unless you unblock them. When blocking channels on YouTube, you will still see them in search results or on external sites. Blocking channels improve your YouTube recommendations, so you get more refined video suggestions according to your taste. The channels you block on YouTube won’t have any idea that you block them, as they won’t get any notifications.

Why might it be good to block a channel?

Blocking channels improves your and viewers’ recommendations. There are channels out there that have toxic content, such as blatantly spreading misinformation and showing content that doesn’t align with your views. Your space on YouTube should make you feel at peace. Blocking channels allow us to discover more channels that are worth our time. Plus, YouTube makes it easier for you to block and unblock channels.

How to make sure your channel isn’t blocked by viewers

If you are actively making content on YouTube, chances are a couple of users might find your channel worthy of being blocked. How do you avoid this?

Don’t clickbait: We all hate clickbait, so don’t subject your audience to it. Clickbait misleads viewers into clicking on a video by promising content that isn’t actually in the video. For instance, if you claim that the next Marvel movie is canceled, but in the video you reveal it’s just delayed a few weeks, that’s clickbait, and your audience won’t appreciate it. While clickbait might work if it’s an inside joke and your community’s in on it, if you are downright lying about the content, people are not going to appreciate it. It will hurt your channel; people may even block your channel because of your misleading videos. So, be creative with your thumbnails and titles and keep your clickbaiting within reason.
Focus on the quality of your content: People value authenticity, and they can see through creators who are just doing videos for the views. By producing well-researched content, you will gain a community that appreciates your work.
Know that you can’t please everyone: This is the reality of content creation; you can’t please everyone. Someone out there will not like the content you produce despite your efforts. Whatever reason they have, accept early on that you will have critics and bashers.