Blogger Updated Content Policy Takes Effect December 16, 2026
- The updated Blogger Content Policy takes effect on December 16, 2026. Blogger shows a banner linking to the new version.
- Only the Enforcement section changed. Blogger can now act on “other signals of abuse” and the “level of risk detected,” and can limit features such as usage limits.
- The content rules themselves are the same. If your blog already follows the guidelines, you do not need to change anything.
What is actually new in the updated policy? I compared the current policy page with the upcoming version, section by section. This post shows the exact differences, then explains the full rules, appeals and a short checklist so you can check your own blog.
What changed in the updated Blogger content policy
Blogger’s current policy page now shows a notice that the policies change on December 16, 2026. The upcoming version carries the opposite notice, saying it takes effect on that date. Every guideline, from adult content to copyright, reads the same in both. The edits are all in Enforcement of Blogger’s Content Policy.
| Part of the policy | Current policy | From December 16, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| When Blogger can act | When a blog violates the community guidelines. | When a blog violates the guidelines or Blogger detects other signals of abuse. |
| How the action is chosen | Based on the severity of the violation. | Based on the severity of the violation or the level of risk detected. |
| Available actions | Six: warning screen, unpublish a post, delete content or blog, disable Blogger access, disable Google account access, report to law enforcement. | The same six, plus a seventh: limit access to certain features, including reducing usage limits or removing a feature completely. |
| Everything else | Identical: all 17 guidelines, repeat-abuse rules, the appeals process and the EU Digital Services Act notes. | |
Before, the options were mostly all-or-nothing. A violation led to a warning screen, a removed post or a disabled account. Now Blogger can also throttle or switch off a feature, and it can act on risk signals before a clear guideline violation is proven. Google has not published which features or limits this covers.
Things people are getting wrong about this update
Some posts about the update describe changes that are not actually new. I checked each claim against both versions.
- The “Deceptive Practices, Fraud and Scams” section, covering fake reviews and get-rich-quick, advance-fee, romance, sweepstakes and investment scams, is already in the current policy.
- The 10-business-day typical appeal time is already in the current policy.
- Action on “other signals of abuse”
- Choosing the action by “level of risk detected”
- Limiting features or usage limits as a penalty
The banner also does not say what else changes, because nothing else does. Content creators who write honestly, avoid spam and follow the guidelines are not affected by the guideline text.
The Blogger content rules at a glance
| Guideline | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Adult content | Allowed if the blog is marked adult. No commercial porn ads or links, and no illegal sexual content. |
| Child safety | Zero tolerance for content that exploits or endangers children, including grooming and sextortion. |
| Dangerous and illegal activities | No content that facilitates serious harm or encourages illegal acts. General educational information is allowed. |
| Fraud, scams and fake reviews | No get-rich-quick, advance-fee, romance, sweepstakes or investment scams, and no fake reviews. |
| Harassment and threats | No bullying, threats, unwanted sexualization or exposing someone’s private information. |
| Hate speech | No content that promotes violence or hatred against people for protected characteristics. |
| Impersonation | Do not pose as another person or organization. Parody, satire and pen names are fine. Hiding your country when posting about politics to another country is not. |
| Malware and phishing | No viruses, forced installs, pop-up tricks, or pages that collect passwords or financial details. |
| Misleading content | No false civic information, harmful conspiracy theories, harmful health claims or deceptively edited media. |
| Private images and data | No private intimate images without consent, no images of minors without parental consent, and no other people’s confidential data. |
| Regulated goods | No selling or advertising alcohol, gambling, pharmaceuticals, unapproved supplements, tobacco, fireworks, weapons or medical devices. |
| Spam | No unwanted promotion, automated junk, repetitive or nonsensical content. |
| Violent groups | Known violent non-state organizations cannot use Blogger, though educational and documentary coverage may be allowed with context. |
| Violence and gore | No gratuitous graphic violence involving real people or animals, and no encouraging specific acts of violence. |
| Copyright | Google responds to clear infringement notices. Do not link to unauthorized downloads. |
Google may make exceptions for artistic, educational, documentary or scientific content, so context matters. Explain it clearly when you cover sensitive topics.
Adult content on Blogger: the rules in detail
- Adult images or videos, if the blog is marked as adult
- Readers see an adult warning screen first, and you must not bypass it
- Making money from adult content, including ads or links to commercial porn sites
- Content that shows or encourages rape, incest, bestiality or necrophilia
- Private intimate images shared without consent
- Trying to bypass or disable the warning screen
What happens when a blog breaks the rules?
A report does not remove content automatically. Google’s team reviews it, and if the blog follows the guidelines, no action is taken. If not, Blogger picks one or more actions based on severity and, from December 16, on the risk detected.
- Put the blog or post behind a sensitive content warning.
- Unpublish the post so only the author can see it.
- Delete the post or the whole blog.
- Disable access to the author’s Blogger account.
- Disable access to the author’s Google account.
- Report the user to law enforcement.
- New: limit access to certain features, including reducing usage limits or removing a feature completely.
Creating multiple blogs for repeated abuse can trigger the same actions. If a blog was disabled, do not build a replacement that does the same thing. Unless stated otherwise, restrictions are global and permanent.
How to appeal a Blogger decision
- Read the notification. It states the action taken and the reason.
- Click Appeal or Request review in that notification.
- Wait for the decision, which is typically made within 10 business days, though complex cases can take longer.
- If the appeal is approved, Google reverses the decision. If not, the restriction stays.
Some cases cannot be appealed, such as certain court-ordered removals. If you are covered by the EU Digital Services Act, you may also be able to use a certified out-of-court dispute settlement body, and you can always speak to a lawyer about other remedies.
Checklist before December 16
Frequently asked questions
When does the new Blogger content policy start?
The updated policy takes effect on December 16, 2026. Until then the current policy applies.
What exactly changed?
Only the enforcement section. Blogger can now act on other signals of abuse, choose actions based on the level of risk detected, and limit access to certain features, including usage limits.
Do I need to edit my blog before December 16?
Not if it already follows the guidelines, because the guideline text did not change. It is still a good idea to run through the checklist above.
Which features can Blogger limit?
The policy does not say. It only states that access to certain features may be limited, including reduced usage limits or complete removal of a feature.
Is the fraud and scams section new?
No. It is already in the current policy, so posts that call it new are mistaken.
Can I appeal a limitation or a removal?
Yes, in most cases. Use the appeal or request review link in the notification, and expect a decision within about 10 business days.
Sources
Read next: fix a Blogger custom domain setup, browse more Blogger tutorials, and try the free tools on Bazzhood.
Checked on November 6, 2026. Policies can change again, so always compare with Google’s live Blogger Content Policy page.
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