Short answer: YouTube Shorts can bring a creator discovery, but links in Shorts descriptions and comments are not clickable, and YouTube's policies ban sexually gratifying content and links to pornography anywhere on the platform. Use Shorts for SFW brand content, put the creator's links on the channel page, and keep every destination within YouTube's external links policy.
Where links work on YouTube
As of 17 September 2026, YouTube's help page (Sharing links with your audiences) says:
| Place | Clickable? |
|---|---|
| Shorts descriptions and Shorts comments | No |
| Channel profile links | Yes (needs advanced features) |
| Long-form video descriptions and comments | Yes (needs advanced features) |
| End screens | Yes, on long-form videos |
The same page says external links require the channel to have access to advanced features. So the path from a Short is: viewer taps the channel name, lands on the channel page, sees the links.
What YouTube does not allow
YouTube's Nudity and sexual content policy says "explicit content meant to be sexually gratifying is not allowed" and that posting it can lead to removal or channel termination. Content with nudity or sexual themes that is not explicit may be age-restricted, which limits who sees it.
The External links policy prohibits "links to pornography", and it covers more than clickable URLs: URL text shown in videos or images, obfuscated URLs and "verbally directing users to other sites" all count. It applies to videos, channels, comments and pinned comments. For a creator channel, that rules out pointing viewers to adult content from any Short, in any form.
Setting up a Shorts channel for a creator
- Name and handle that match the creator's brand, so viewers can find the other platforms.
- Channel links to a neutral landing page or to the creator's other social profiles, checked against YouTube's policy.
- Content: SFW formats that suit Shorts, such as routines, commentary, tutorials in the creator's niche, behind-the-scenes. See SFW hooks.
- AI disclosure for realistic synthetic scenes. YouTube requires creators to disclose realistic altered or synthetic content (YouTube Help). See AI content disclosure.
- Original uploads. Content the creator owns or has permission to use.
Shorts in the wider mix
Many agencies post the same master clip to TikTok, Reels and Shorts, one copy per platform, and keep separate channels for separate niches. Running several channels from phones is covered in multiple YouTube Shorts channels, and cross-posting in repurposing content.
| Assumed weekly plan per creator | TikTok | Reels | Shorts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Posts (assumption, adjust to test) | 7 | 5 | 5 |
| Link location | Bio | Bio | Channel page |
| Main risk | For You eligibility | Recommendation eligibility | Age restriction, link policy |
Posting Shorts on iPhones with Farmero
Farmero posts YouTube Shorts through the YouTube app on your own iPhones and checks the channel for the new Short before calling it posted. It can also warm up a new channel with human-paced browsing. Automating these apps may breach their terms, and nobody can promise an account will never be restricted. See posting.
FAQ
Can I put a link in a YouTube Shorts description?
You can type it, but YouTube says URLs in Shorts descriptions and comments are not clickable. Put links on the channel page instead.
Can a Short say "link on my channel" for adult content?
No. YouTube's external links policy covers verbally directing users to sites, and links to pornography are prohibited.
Why was my creator's Short age-restricted?
YouTube may age-restrict content with nudity or sexual themes that is not explicit. Keep Shorts clearly SFW to avoid limited reach.
Do channels need to be monetized to add links?
No, but YouTube says external links need access to advanced features on the channel.