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Advertisers Are Still Boycotting YouTube Over Offensive Videos (go.com)

An anonymous reader quotes the Associated Press:The fallout from the YouTube boycott is likely to be felt through the rest of this year. Skittish advertisers have curtailed their spending until they are convinced Google can prevent their brands from appearing next to extremist clips promoting hate and violence... At one point, about 250 advertisers were boycotting YouTube... The list included big-spending marketers such as PepsiCo, Wal-Mart Stores, Starbucks, AT&T, Verizon, Johnson & Johnson, and Volkswagen.

It's unclear how many, if any, of those have returned to YouTube since Google promised to hire more human reviewers and upgrade its technology to keep ads away from repugnant videos. Both Verizon and AT&T, two companies that are trying to expand their own digital ad networks to compete with Google, told The Associated Press that they are still boycotting YouTube. FX Networks confirmed that it isn't advertising on YouTube either. Several other boycotting marketers contacted by AP didn't respond.

Thursday CEO Sundar Pichai told analysts that responding to the boycott, Google held "thousands and thousands" of conversations with advertisers, and one analyst now estimates reduced ad spending on YouTube and Google could cost the company $300 million this year alone.

1 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. Re: Children and bathwaters by DogDude · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    But the thing is, companies have decided that it's not worth it to advertise to assholes like you. THEY DON'T WANT YOUR MONEY. As a small business owner, I also don't want money from assholes. It's got nothing about free speech or censorship, or whatever words that you're throwing around without understanding. Nobody wants to be associated with assholes like you, except for other assholes.

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    I don't respond to AC's.