Alphabet Inc’s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) YouTube video sharing platform will no longer allow political or election advertisements in its coveted masthead at the top of the site’s homepage.
Advertisements for alcohol, gambling and prescription drugs will also be banned from the masthead spot going forward, according to YouTube.
In an email to advertisers, YouTube said the change builds on its move last year to retire all full-day masthead ads. The company said it has retired full-day reservations, like the one then-President Donald Trump reserved to dominate YouTube’s homepage on Election Day 2020.
"We believe this update will build on changes we made last year to the masthead reservation process and will lead to a better experience for users," YouTube said.
The change to its most prominent advertising unit takes effect immediately. Google previously paused all political advertisements around the 2020 U.S. presidential election and again ahead of President Joe Biden’s inauguration this January, citing a policy related to "sensitive events."
