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General Category => Blog => Topic started by: kat on June 03, 2017, 02:11:36 AM

Title: YouTube Clarifying Demonetization & Controversial Content
Post by: kat on June 03, 2017, 02:11:36 AM
YouTube demonetization isn't censorship

Following on the previous post on the topic of YouTube using demonetization as a form of 'soft' censorship (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=925.0), it appears, at least from a public-facing perspective, that Google and YouTube are indeed demonetizing controversial topics simply as a means to "restore advertiser confidence" - notwithstanding the 'lack' of confidence this implies being used by certain corporations and advocacy groups as leverage against controversial topics (advertisers have always had the ability to 'block' certain content against which their adverts might have appeared) and their political opposition. But that's by-the-by as the real meat of the matter is the clarification on what Google/YouTube consider "controversial" content (https://youtube-creators.googleblog.com/2017/06/your-content-and-making-money-from.html);

Quote
Hateful content: Content that promotes discrimination or disparages or humiliates an individual or group of people on the basis of the individual’s or group’s race, ethnicity, or ethnic origin, nationality, religion, disability, age, veteran status, **** orientation, gender identity, or other characteristic associated with systematic discrimination or marginalization.

Inappropriate use of family entertainment characters: Content that depicts family entertainment characters engaged in violent, ****, vile, or otherwise inappropriate behavior, even if done for comedic or satirical purposes.

Incendiary and demeaning content: Content that is gratuitously incendiary, inflammatory, or demeaning. For example, video content that uses gratuitously disrespectful language that shames or insults an individual or group.

It's clear from this YouTube/Google are placing more of their eggs into the YouTube TV and "family-friendly" content basket (as is their 'right'), a move obligating them to tone-down or obfuscate troubling material so they can comfortably court the big networks (Disney, et al). In other words, they are shifting away from the politics of being the "platform for all voices" to one that's 'safe', more unified and neutered in outlook, at least from the outside.

For creators with contrarian or controversial politics, points of view or axes to grind, YouTube has made it quite clear that whilst such content is still welcome, it won't be promoted or easily monetised. It's up to Creators to decide what to do with this in mind as YouTubes loss of revenue, which prompted this change, isn't going anywhere.

Further Reading
- EU Commission & Restricting YouTube for the Public Good (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=933.0)
- YouTube (Google), demonetization and censorship (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=925.0)
- Illegal Hate Speech, the EU and Tech (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=886.0)
- Improving Content ID for creators (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=857.0)
- Twitters Trust & Safety Council and "free expression" (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=826.0)
- Free Speech & Expectations of Privacy on Social Media (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=869.0)
Title: Re: YouTube Clarifying Demonetization & Controversial Content
Post by: ratty redemption on June 03, 2017, 10:18:07 PM
it will be interesting to see how this apparent two tiered platform will work out. in some ways it sounds like the surface web vs the deep web. although i doubt yt will allow the low tier to go that far down the rabbit hole.
Title: Re: YouTube Clarifying Demonetization & Controversial Content
Post by: kat on June 03, 2017, 11:59:34 PM
YouTube will likely always carry controversial content even if that's just from an archival point of view (digital record). The challenge for Creators is monetising in light of the new policies that essentially kibosh anything gaining traction regardless of the materials merits (the exception to this would be already established actors with large user-bases... but even then they are solely dependent on YouTubes 'subscription' algorithms not neutering notifications).

Of the few alternatives that have sprung up, few are likely to gain significant/sufficient traction, look at Vimeo as an example, it's been around for a little longer (2004 vs. 2005) and still hasn't anywhere near YouTubes reach (c.170 million (https://vimeo.com/about/advertisers) vs. 1 billion users, 100 million vs. 1 billion monthly views (https://www.youtube.com/yt/press/) etc.). YouTube, as they say, is the battlefield, it has the greatest reach because its where everyone is. That'll take some doing to topple in any meaningful way - those leaving and going elsewhere may be able to 'earn' from the efforts, but in doing so they're likely tapping the same relatively small pool of like minded people for views and income. That typically doesn't last, at least not unless these new alternatives can somehow catch mainstream attention whilst bypassing the 'alt' stigma that same mainstream is busy painting everyone with. And this is notwithstanding the Googlopoly (Googleopoly), the depths of their pockets and their political reach.
Title: Re: YouTube Clarifying Demonetization & Controversial Content
Post by: ratty redemption on June 04, 2017, 12:20:36 AM
agreed to all that.