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Ask HN: Why hasn't YouTube removed those fake MrBeast $1000 giveaway ad scams?

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Ask HN: Why hasn't YouTube removed those fake MrBeast $1000 giveaway ad scams?

#1
Example scam in the YouTube app: https://ibb.co/BNVy1ZR

I have been seeing this scam ad in the YouTube mobile app for the last few months, that claims anyone who sees this ad will get $1000 dollars. It seems crazy to me that Google/YouTube hasn't done anything about it so far, or have they?

Re: Ask HN: Why hasn't YouTube removed those fake MrBeast $1000 giveaway ad scams?

#2
YouTube doesn't have a huge incentive to remove these ads immediately (after all, if they're working, YouTube is making money).

YouTube just generally isn't known for being the best about spam stuff (comments, ads, etc.), so this fits within that narrative.

Re: Ask HN: Why hasn't YouTube removed those fake MrBeast $1000 giveaway ad scams?

#5
post #2

YouTube doesn't have a huge incentive to remove these ads immediately (after all, if they're working, YouTube is making money). YouTube just generally isn't known for being the best about spam stuff (comments, ads, etc.), so this fits within that narrative.

In general I'm getting deluged with spam on Google's stuff lately -- YouTube spam replies, google docs share spam, google slides share spam, etc.

Re: Ask HN: Why hasn't YouTube removed those fake MrBeast $1000 giveaway ad scams?

#7
post #5
post #2

YouTube doesn't have a huge incentive to remove these ads immediately (after all, if they're working, YouTube is making money). YouTube just generally isn't known for being the best about spam stuff (comments, ads, etc.), so this fits within that narrative.

In general I'm getting deluged with spam on Google's stuff lately -- YouTube spam replies, google docs share spam, google slides share spam, etc.

I'm glad I'm not the only one to notice this. Maybe its because every other platform seems to have "fixed" it.

Only "spam" I get now is DMs on Twitter and Instagram. However, I _see_ a ton of spam on youtube in the comments or when there's not enough "popular" videos in the niche.

I guess videos is a lot harder than text but even the comment spam is crazy sometimes.

Re: Ask HN: Why hasn't YouTube removed those fake MrBeast $1000 giveaway ad scams?

#10
When asking "why?" for something like this, follow the money. This one is pretty simple:

1. The ad is paid for already by someone.

2. To remove an ad, there needs to be a system to report it (or an automation).

3. To check that system, requires human effort.

4. The human effort to review ads likely costs more than the ad paid to be displayed.

5. The effort to minimize that cost costs more than the revenue lost by displaying bad ads.

6. etc.

Personally I value my time more than the $12/mo it costs to not see ads on YouTube.

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