You can block groups of ads that are considered "sensitive" due to the nature of the business or ad — such as Sensationalism or Significant Skin Exposure — from appearing on your network or specified inventory. Learn more about the available sensitive ad categories.
In this article:
- Block sensitive categories on a site
- Block sensitive categories on all sites
- Sensitive ad categories
Our system classifies ads automatically, and we don't rely solely on advertiser-provided categorization. Our technology makes its best attempt to filter ads from the possible categories; however, we don't guarantee that it will block every related ad.
Block sensitive categories on a site
- Sign in to your AdSense account.
- Click Brand safety.
- Click your product. For example, click Content for AdSense for Content ads.
- Click Blocking controls.
- Enter the name of the site that you want to set the block on and click Search.
- Click the name of the site in the "Search sites" dialog.
Tip: If your site is not listed, you can add it using the site management feature.
- Click Manage Sensitive categories.
- On the "Sensitive categories" page, use the controls to allow or block categories. Changes are automatically saved on selection.
Block sensitive categories on all sites
- Sign in to your AdSense account.
- Click Brand safety.
- Click your product. For example, click Content for AdSense for Content ads.
- Click Blocking controls.
- Click Manage Sensitive categories.
- On the "Sensitive categories" page, use the controls to allow or block categories. Changes are automatically saved on selection.
- (Optional) Click Preview ads to access the Ad review center to review and take action on the ads that may appear on your sites.
Sensitive ad categories
There are two types of sensitive categories: Standard and Restricted.
- Standard sensitive categories are allowed by default.
- Restricted sensitive categories are blocked by default.
Standard sensitive categories
The following categories are supported for ads in 17 languages (Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese), except where noted otherwise.
To prevent ads from any of these categories from showing on your pages, visit the "Sensitive categories" page in your AdSense account and click the Block button corresponding to the category.
Includes zodiac, horoscopes, love spells, potions, and psychic-related ads. (This category is specific to English and Portuguese).
Includes lifts, suctions, lasers, hair removal and restoration, tattoos, and body modification.
Includes consumer lending and loans. (This category is specific to Japanese and Korean.)
Includes dating services and online dating communities. Also includes chat sites and apps for meeting new people in general.
Software for download which is designed to enhance the functionality of an operating system or device, whether desktop or mobile. Typical examples include anti-virus software, file converters, driver updaters, system cleaners, download managers, disk defragmenters, codecs, browser toolbars, ringtones, screensavers, wallpapers, and so on.
Includes pharmaceuticals, vitamins, supplements, and related retailers.
Includes religious ads and ads advocating for or against religious views; does not include astrology or non-denominational spirituality.
Includes sexual function, fertility, and birth control ads, as well as ads for products, services, and information related to STDs and abortion including clinics and medication; does not include normal pregnancy resources.
Ad images where any part of the adult human body from the sternum to the mid-thigh is not clothed, or the body is clothed in underwear, lingerie, or other see-through clothes or non-clothing items such as a towel or bed sheet.
Includes simulated gambling games (including, without limitation, poker, slots, bingo, lotteries, sports betting, betting on races, as well as other card games and casino games) where there is no opportunity to win anything of value (such as money or prizes).
Includes video games, online games and downloadable games; does not include video game consoles.
Includes weight loss, dieting, and related products and programs; doesn't include healthy eating or general fitness ads.
Restricted sensitive categories
Ads in this category were previously categorized as non-family safe and were not allowed on pages managed by AdSense. If you don’t mind ads from these categories showing on your pages, click the Allow button corresponding to the category.
Includes online gambling and location-based gambling. Please note that these ads will only be shown to users in regions where gambling is legal. Additionally, due to local laws, we strongly recommend that publishers do not opt in to receiving gambling ads if their primary site audience is intended for individuals under 18 years of age (e.g., kids' game sites, high school education sites). A full list of these restrictions can be found here.
Includes online sale of alcoholic beverages and brand or informational advertising for alcoholic beverages. Some countries have restrictions on the types of alcohol-related ads that are allowed and will only show permitted ad types. A full list of these restrictions can be found in the Google Ads Alcohol policy.
We strongly recommend that publishers do not opt-in to receiving alcohol ads if their primary site audience is intended for individuals under 18 years of age or if their site contains content where an association with alcohol would be inappropriate (for example, a site about recovering from addiction or pregnancy websites). Additionally, see the following for country-specific restrictions on alcohol advertising:
| AdSense publishers: | Only AdSense Publishers in Alcohol promotion allowed countries can opt in to receiving alcohol ads. A full list of allowed countries can be found here. |
| YouTube Partners: | Only YouTube partners in countries where alcohol advertising is allowed can opt-in to receiving alcohol ads. See the YouTube Alcohol advertising policy for more information. |
