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YouTube Unleashed a Conspiracy Theory Boom. Can It Be Contained?

nytimes.com

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Re: YouTube Unleashed a Conspiracy Theory Boom. Can It Be Contained?

#21

Post by tines »

srkmno wrote: post #3

Conspiracy theories are fiction which is protected speech, it's interesting how newspapers are thumbing their noses at the first amendment and smearing competitors who also enjoy it's protection as perhaps they sense an opportunity at regaining gatekeeper status. It also can be said that "conspiracy theories" are part of internet culture as no one really believes the earth is flat, it's just attention seeking behavio…

The first amendment is about protecting speech from the government, and since the Ny Times isn’t a government entity, the right to free speech doesn’t pertain.

Re: YouTube Unleashed a Conspiracy Theory Boom. Can It Be Contained?

#22

Post by duxup »

whatislovecraft wrote: post #18
duxup wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Is this really YouTube's fault? At some point aren't they responsible for hosting it? If I were hosting it, I'd feel somewhat responsible.

All the TV news networks then as well, right? Everyone who plays video of the Republicans spouting lies about the world, without directly commenting how wrong it is, would be equally guilty? More guilty? This stuff starts with Authority. on Live TV. Not some rando youtube channels.

The responsible news networks really do put some effort into verifying claims and confronting politicians, sometimes the moment they claim it, and they do filter who gets on...

I have no idea what you mean by "More guilty".

Re: YouTube Unleashed a Conspiracy Theory Boom. Can It Be Contained?

#23

Post by tombert »

srkmno wrote: post #3

Conspiracy theories are fiction which is protected speech, it's interesting how newspapers are thumbing their noses at the first amendment and smearing competitors who also enjoy it's protection as perhaps they sense an opportunity at regaining gatekeeper status. It also can be said that "conspiracy theories" are part of internet culture as no one really believes the earth is flat, it's just attention seeking behavio…

Well, first off, YouTube is a private corporation, not subject to free-speech laws.

Second, while I agree that YouTube shouldn't ban people for believing in conspiratorial nonsense, even if I do think it's harmful, it's not unreasonable that their algorithm should bias things that are fact-based, or at least not contributing to a toxic platform. It's hard to argue that any good came from Alex Jones posting the addresses of the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting, and it doesn't create a fascist dystopia when YouTube doesn't want to promote something like that.

Also, I wouldn't be 100% sure that all the flat-earthers are trolling. There's an overwhelming amount of stupid people in the world, and while I will say that most of them are probably messing around, at least some are serious. At some level, I think it's far too easy for people to say "I'm just trolling" after the fact.

Re: YouTube Unleashed a Conspiracy Theory Boom. Can It Be Contained?

#24

Post by [deleted] »

coldtea wrote: post #17
inherentFloyd wrote: post #8

>Mr. Dawson unspooled a series of far-fetched hypotheses. Among them: that iPhones secretly record their owners’ every utterance Yeah, but that's true.

Even if not true, very far from "far fetched". Totally plausible, and in some cases (certain malicious apps etc, on Android or jailbroken iPhone) totally true.

[deleted]

Re: YouTube Unleashed a Conspiracy Theory Boom. Can It Be Contained?

#25

Post by duxup »

IWeldMelons wrote: post #11

It appears that dem party (and its mouthpiece NyTimes) has become a complete opposite of itself. Their obviously want to limit free speech to their liking.

Posting on YouTube =/ free speech. That's a pretty fundamental misunderstanding you've got there.

Re: YouTube Unleashed a Conspiracy Theory Boom. Can It Be Contained?

#26

Post by EliRivers »

alexandercrohde wrote: post #15

Our society is premised on the idea of free exchange of ideas. Some will freely choose to think/do/believe things we find insane (some cults/religions/jobs). The premise of this article is that these videos are going to brainwash/hypnotize poor fools into believing crazy things. Newspapers need to win not be being the only voice in the room, but by being the most relevant, clear, researched, reliable, unbiased voice…

Newspapers need to win not be being the only voice in the room, but by being the most relevant, clear, researched, reliable, unbiased voice in the room.

But being relevant, clear, researched, reliable and unbiased doesn't get as much attention as feeding people's biases and fears and all the rest of that. Is it possible to win if all you have to offer is relevance, clarity, research, reliability and lack of bias?

Re: YouTube Unleashed a Conspiracy Theory Boom. Can It Be Contained?

#27

Post by Ambroos »

There's been an uptick in conspiracy theories lately, I kinda blame the whole "mainstream media lies" movement. Some people are starting to believe that if almost everyone believes something, it has to be a conspiracy.

My favourite one right now is "5G is bad and will kill us all and microwave birds". There is not a single article on 5G without the Facebook comments being full of people shouting about the extreme dangers (even when it's just about enabling the fake 5G on frequencies previously used for LTE). No matter what you say, they will keep linking you vague YouTube videos by people who claim to be doctors and misinterpreted documents from the 80s. I don't get it at all.

Re: YouTube Unleashed a Conspiracy Theory Boom. Can It Be Contained?

#28

Post by srkmno »

tombert wrote: post #23
srkmno wrote: post #3

Conspiracy theories are fiction which is protected speech, it's interesting how newspapers are thumbing their noses at the first amendment and smearing competitors who also enjoy it's protection as perhaps they sense an opportunity at regaining gatekeeper status. It also can be said that "conspiracy theories" are part of internet culture as no one really believes the earth is flat, it's just attention seeking behavio…

Well, first off, YouTube is a private corporation, not subject to free-speech laws. Second, while I agree that YouTube shouldn't ban people for believing in conspiratorial nonsense, even if I do think it's harmful, it's not unreasonable that their algorithm should bias things that are fact-based, or at least not contributing to a toxic platform. It's hard to argue that any good came from Alex Jones posting the addres…

> first off, YouTube is a private corporation

So is the new york times.

> not subject to free-speech laws

Yes it is, same as the new york times.

Re: YouTube Unleashed a Conspiracy Theory Boom. Can It Be Contained?

#29

Post by gscott »

gipp wrote: post #5
rsynnott wrote: post #2

[flagged]

https://youtube.googleblog.com/2019/01/continuing-our-work-t... YouTube and Google have put out tons of comms lately indicating that it's at least something top of mind

Mostly because this hoopla makes it hard to monetize those videos. But even conspiracy theorists need toothpaste and skin cream. YouTube needs to create an education program for advertisers that people who consume these videos are people too. Maybe sell prepper supply ads.

Re: YouTube Unleashed a Conspiracy Theory Boom. Can It Be Contained?

#30

Post by neaden »

alexandercrohde wrote: post #15

Our society is premised on the idea of free exchange of ideas. Some will freely choose to think/do/believe things we find insane (some cults/religions/jobs). The premise of this article is that these videos are going to brainwash/hypnotize poor fools into believing crazy things. Newspapers need to win not be being the only voice in the room, but by being the most relevant, clear, researched, reliable, unbiased voice…

Why do you think that people will automatically listen to the most relevant, clear, researched, reliable, unbiased voice? Lots of people end up listening to loud, angry, biased voices that say a lot of bullshit. We see this with things like the anti-Vax movement.
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