Udemy does not approve content in some topic areas, or may publish only in limited circumstances. Subject matter may be excluded due to concerns that it is considered either inappropriate, harmful, or offensive to learners, or because it is otherwise inconsistent with the values and spirit of Udemy.
While instructors have production and editorial independence over their courses, it is also their responsibility to ensure their courses follow the letter and the spirit of our policy, including our content quality values and standards, when submitting to the Quality Review Process.
We recommend that you reach out to the Trust & Safety team before building content relating to any of the following topics. Please include as much detail as possible.
It is the instructor’s responsibility to ensure their course follows the letter and the spirit of the policy when submitting to the Quality Review Process. While the Trust & Safety Team will guide instructors around smaller fixes, extensive coaching on how to build or update a course is not available.
Please bear in mind that while a course might be permissible in the Udemy marketplace, business customers might be more sensitive to certain topics & presentations. If you wish for your course to be eligible for admission to Udemy Business, please ensure that all content and presentation is appropriate for a professional audience.
Restricted topics
Sexuality
Sexually explicit content or content with implied sexual activity is not permitted. We will also not publish courses providing instruction on sexual performance or technique. Content around reproductive health and intimate relationships must be free of explicit or suggestive content. See also: Nudity and Attire.
Examples that are not allowed:
- Instruction on seduction, sexual techniques, or performance
- Discussion of sex toys
Examples that are allowed:
- Safe sex courses
- Consent and communication
- Human sexuality from a sociological or psychological perspective
Nudity and attire
Nudity is permitted only when essential to learning within an artistic, medical, or academic context. Attire should be appropriate to the subject area of instruction, without unnecessary emphasis on exposed body parts.
Examples that are allowed:
- Fine art and figure drawing
- Anatomical illustrations
- Medical footage or demonstrations
Examples that are not allowed:
- Boudoir photography
- Naked yoga
- Body art
Dating and relationships
Content on attraction, flirtation, courtship, etc. are not allowed. Any other courses on long-term relationships must be in accordance with all Udemy policies, including those involving Sexuality and Discriminatory Language.
Examples that are allowed:
- Marital counseling
- General discussions of intimacy within a course focused on strengthening overall relationship
- Self-confidence to be ready for dating
Examples that are not allowed:
- Stereotyping on gender roles
- Seduction techniques
Weapons instruction
Content providing instruction in the making, handling, or usage of firearms or air guns is not permitted. All other courses providing weapons instruction must otherwise adhere to all Udemy policy, including Violence and Bodily Harm.
Examples that are allowed:
- How to disarm an attacker
Violence and bodily harm
Dangerous activities or behavior likely to impact health or result in injury cannot be shown. Glorification or promotion of violence will not be tolerated.
Examples that are not allowed:
- Self harm
- Substance Abuse
- Unhealthy weight management practices
- Extreme body modification
- Combat courses encouraging disproportionate aggression
Examples that are allowed:
- Martial arts courses
- Recovery programs for substance abuse
Animal cruelty
Treatment of animals such as pets, livestock, game, etc. must be in accordance with the recommendations of relevant animal welfare organizations.
Discriminatory language or ideas
Content or conduct fostering discriminatory attitudes on the basis of a group characteristic such as race, religion, nationality, disability, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation will not be tolerated on the platform.
Illegal or unethical activities
Content must be in accordance with any applicable national law. Activities which are illegal in many jurisdictions may also be disallowed, even if permitted within the uploader’s country of residence.
Examples that are not allowed:
- Courses relating to cannabis
- Directions on cracking software access or non-ethical hacking
- Dark web exploration (unless clear emphasis is how it can be used in investigations by security professionals)
Examples that are allowed:
- Instruction on how to find coupons or cheat codes
Misinformation and misleading content
Instruction which is intentionally misleading or that promotes ideas in opposition to the consensus in scientific, medical, or academic communities should not be posted.
Examples that are not allowed:
- Vaccine hesitancy
- Fringe theories
- Money manifestation
Sensitive or otherwise inappropriate topics or language
As a global learning platform with learners ranging from casual hobbyists to professional enterprise customers, we must take into consideration many sensitivities when evaluating content.
We will examine not only the kind of topic under discussion, but also how those topics are presented. When providing instruction on a sensitive subject area, ensure that all associated course materials treat that subject with care. Avoid language and imagery which is inflammatory, offensive or otherwise insensitive.
Content for young people
Udemy is not currently set up to support underage learners. Persons under the age of consent (for example, 13 in the US or 16 in Ireland) may not use the services. Those under 18 but above the age of consent may use the services only if a parent or guardian opens their account, handles any enrollments, and manages their account usage.
As such, please ensure any subject matter oriented towards young students is clearly marketed to parents and guardians who will be supervising their learning. See Section 1 of Udemy’s Terms of Use to learn more.
How to report abuse
We reserve the right to add to and modify this list at any time. If you see a topic that you believe should not be on the platform, raise it for review by clicking “Report Abuse” at the bottom of the appropriate course landing page.