Posting Screenshots of Google AdSense Earnings Can Get You Banned

I have not read the Google AdSense Terms and Conditions. Do you know why? Because it's too long. I've always thought that all the stuff I need to know is in the Google AdSense Policies. The latter is a more bullet form type where everything is categorized and simplified and so easier to understand.

I know all the typical stuff as stated in the policies: can't curse, can't use offensive images or words, can't encourage people to illegally acquire songs or movies, you know, typical stuff.

And so apparently, it's illegal to put screenshots of your earnings on any public post. Weird thing is that I don't see that being mentioned in the policies section. As I have said though, I have not read the terms and conditions and according to some sources this is supposedly in the terms and conditions part (which I've already said I have not read). I mean, I browsed through it but didn't really see anything.

I tried to Google it and ironically someone from HubPages owns the number one spot for my query on the frontpage of the search results. The Hub about common mistakes that get you banned says that it is a debatable topic. That people aren't really sure what it is exactly about the screenshots that will get a person banned. This brings me back to my issue that it is not in the policies. But then the bottom line is still that people have been banned. And supposedly once you get banned there's almost no turning back. Especially now when I see that Google AdSense is really being very picky with who they accept into the program.

I don't really want to debate. It's always better to be safe than sorry. I once wrote an article here on HubPages about my favorite TV show Fringe. It was really long and I really took my time in expressing my love for the show. In less than a day of posting it, HubPages warns me that the ads for that article has been blocked because of policy breach. I assumed it was because I posted a photo of Olivia Dunham inside the isolation tank and, well, it's part of the procedure to only wear undergarments. But up to now that's only an assumption and I don't really know what exactly it is that made them think I was breaching policy (false positives are common). But Instead of trying to revise, I just deleted the post knowing that it is better to be safe than sorry. Might as well just get rid of it then one day just write a new one and hope that things will turn out differently.

And so some crazy person commented on my hub about looking for work in all caps that I should delete my post immediately if I don't want to be banned by Google AdSense forever. Further exchanges with her lead to the concept that publicly discussing your CTR is illegal. And the funny thing is I don't even have a single clue on what a CTR is. I don't really mind it when I check my stats. I usually just look at page views and money. But AGAIN, this is not expressed directly in the policies or maybe (based on my browsing) in the terms and conditions. Plus, she was very paranoid as well saying that I had to delete her comment as well. I'm not sure if that means that it's also illegal to inform non-readers of the terms and conditions about the content of the terms and conditions. It's all just so weird. I mean, I know of a lot of weird things in the Google AdSense policy but this one just blows my mind.

One reason why I'm so annoyed is because I manage a blog where I discuss and document my experiences with SEO and Google AdSense earnings. So how ineffective will I be if I can't post screenshots of my earnings, right? It is quite funny that right now a lot of my blog posts are very awkward because the content talks about non-existent screenshots of earnings because I had to take down all that I had. As I have said, I don't really feel the need to debate or argue about it as much as I am annoyed by it. As long as I comply with their rules, I guess. But I am very confused with everything. I wish Google will just make everything concise and clear about what is allowed and what is not allowed.

So now that I know it's illegal to do such things, I guess I have to think of other ways I can write on Beating The Search Engine that can really sell the idea of earning money through Google AdSense.

I don't really know the ranking power of things I write after having a HubPages subdomain compared to before. But one thing I know is that my old posts, especially the top hubs, weren't really affected that much so that's always a good thing. But for now I took out all the earnings and I'm planning to read more about this screenshot issue so I can know exactly what I can or can't do. Especially since a lot of my past blog posts are awkward right now as I have said and lacking photos. Either way I will not risk it. Taking out one photo of a screenshot won't really affect a blog posts' ranking anyway. Readers just might find it a bit spam-like.

I can see the sun rising already. It's better that I sleep on this one and research more and reflect more about it. The weather has made me sickly yet again. I should really increase my intake of Vitamin C.

I'll post something as soon as I find out more about this screenshot issue so be sure to come back for more!