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Why Is YouTube Demonetizing LGBTQ Videos?

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Re: Why Is YouTube Demonetizing LGBTQ Videos?

#21

Post by eugeniub »

pjc50 wrote: post #3

The real problem is the lack of explanation. If a film is refused certification, it will usually come with a list of reasons, making it possible to recut to an acceptable version. If it's demonetised by youtube you get no explanation. Yes, that will result in people working exactly up to the line, but at least having a line is something that people can work with.

Maybe for most countries, but not America. The MPAA movie rating system here is a nightmare. The rating standards are private, and if they rate you NC17 or X or what have you, they'll refuse to give any reasons as to why, because that would imply they engage in censorship. The rating system is not government-run either, so it's partially controlled by clergy members, and treats gay films more harshly. "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" is a good documentary that covers the MPAA rating system.

Re: Why Is YouTube Demonetizing LGBTQ Videos?

#23

Post by patryn20 »

sp332 wrote: post #12
pjc50 wrote: post #3

The real problem is the lack of explanation. If a film is refused certification, it will usually come with a list of reasons, making it possible to recut to an acceptable version. If it's demonetised by youtube you get no explanation. Yes, that will result in people working exactly up to the line, but at least having a line is something that people can work with.

I'm not sure if there is a line. Here are two identical videos, and the one with "transgender" in the title was demonetized. https://twitter.com/GeekRemix/status/910942349928419328 (edited with larger sample)

That is extremely troubling. I wonder if it's because the algorithm is taking into account previous negative uses of the word in comments/commentary and flagging it as possible hate speech?

Re: Why Is YouTube Demonetizing LGBTQ Videos?

#24

Post by squeeeeeeeeeee »

YouTube is demonetizing any and all content that is politically charged or even just not interesting to the advertisers. If content by Brady Haran is not safe, no one is safe.

https://twitter.com/BradyHaran/status/901041339105673217 https://twitter.com/BradyHaran/status/901044151806021632 https://twitter.com/BradyHaran/status/906592700132196352

Re: Why Is YouTube Demonetizing LGBTQ Videos?

#25

Post by tomsthumb »

eugeniub wrote: post #21
pjc50 wrote: post #3

The real problem is the lack of explanation. If a film is refused certification, it will usually come with a list of reasons, making it possible to recut to an acceptable version. If it's demonetised by youtube you get no explanation. Yes, that will result in people working exactly up to the line, but at least having a line is something that people can work with.

Maybe for most countries, but not America. The MPAA movie rating system here is a nightmare. The rating standards are private, and if they rate you NC17 or X or what have you, they'll refuse to give any reasons as to why, because that would imply they engage in censorship. The rating system is not government-run either, so it's partially controlled by clergy members, and treats gay films more harshly. "This Film Is N…

iirc the rating standards are not actually private, but rather there are no ratings standards. It's just a few people (mostly friends) sitting in a room saying what they feel like it should be. There are some rough guidelines, but it's not particularly consistent.

Re: Why Is YouTube Demonetizing LGBTQ Videos?

#26

Post by Shivetya »

slaymaker1907 wrote: post #9

I wonder if this violates various local ordinances against LGBT discrimination?

whose ordinance do we appease? how do internet companies not cross a line in some area of the world one way or another. the simple matter is, let them post but don't facilitate the message one way or another.

it is going to give these sites all sorts of ways to make revenue without having to share it

Re: Why Is YouTube Demonetizing LGBTQ Videos?

#27

Post by superkuh »

rhapsodic wrote: post #2

FWIW, youtube has been demonetizing videos that promote conservative POVs. (Edit: Gee, I didn't think this would upset people enough to attract so many downvotes. Looks like I was wrong.)

This isn't really a political issue despite the linked articles stance or your response. What both say is true, but politics isn't the motivation. It's general gentrification and pushing away the potentially controversial in order to bring in more ad money.

I personally noticed it first when all the machining channels that discussed homemade firearms were demonitized.

The difference in this case is that the claims made by op's article are legally actionable under protected class laws.

Re: Why Is YouTube Demonetizing LGBTQ Videos?

#28

Post by patryn20 »

fjert wrote: post #5
rhapsodic wrote: post #2

FWIW, youtube has been demonetizing videos that promote conservative POVs. (Edit: Gee, I didn't think this would upset people enough to attract so many downvotes. Looks like I was wrong.)

I am willing to wager that more action will be seen with regards to LGBTQ channels being demonetized than conservative channels. Google never really tried to hide their left leaning biases.

Anecdata, a lot of the popular conservative user-generated content on YouTube I've come across tends to trend negatively towards "black people are causing all this crime and police drama", "I don't hate LGBT people, I just think their sexual preferences should be criminal again", etc.

I don't think YouTube is purposefully demonitizing videos on conservative fiscal theories.

Re: Why Is YouTube Demonetizing LGBTQ Videos?

#29

Post by TheAdamAndChe »

What frustrates me with the adpocalypse is that YouTube and advertisers are treating it like the television industry when it's not. Real life isn't a perfect, cuss-free, conflict-free utopia like television shows are, and content created by normal people shouldn't expected to be that way.

Instead of demonetizing everything, I think YouTube should emphasize to its advertisers that while both television and YouTube are media companies, that doesn't mean they have the same market share, and thus shouldn't be advertised on in the same way that television does. At the same time, I think YouTube should make it known that advertisement on a video shouldn't equate to endorsement by that advertiser.

Re: Why Is YouTube Demonetizing LGBTQ Videos?

#30

Post by jgrowl »

I thought it was just as simple as the fact that the big companies don't want to advertise their products on "controversial" videos... which are defined very loosely based on key words. For example if you make something like a rape surviver support video and include 'rape' in the description.

I can see why advertisers would not want to risk hurting their brand by playing before a video that is anyway offensive to anyone. If you give that power to them then they will use it. Which can be a problem if you are trying to have an open free speech platform where ideas are shared. I think that is not Google's motivation though. They want to make money. Which again is understandable but not necessarily what the world needs.

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