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YouTube Videos Could Get Demonetized If They Have 'Inappropriate Comments'

In response to a mother's inquiry into why her son's gymnastics videos were deemed not advertiser friendly, YouTube said on Twitter it has "taken a number of actions to better protect the YouTube community from content that endangers minors." The video-sharing website went on to say something very concerning for anyone who has ever uploaded a video to the site: "... even if your video is suitable for advertisers, inappropriate comments could result in your video receiving limited or no ads (yellow icon)."

Essentially, what YouTube is saying is that if someone leaves a "incendiary or demeaning" comment, or one with "inappropriate language," the video which features that comment could get demonetized and the content creator would not generate money from it. If you've ever read a comment thread on YouTube, it shouldn't take long for you to realize how big of an issue this could become. According to YouTube's "advertiser-friendly content guidelines," the following content may not be suitable for most advertisers: "controversial issues and sensitive events," "drugs and dangerous products or substances," "harmful or dangerous acts," "harmful or dangerous acts," "hateful content," "inappropriate language," "inappropriate use of family entertainment characters," "incendiary and demeaning [content]," "sexually suggestive content," and/or "violence."

The best advice for circumventing this issue is to disable comments entirely, but this would significantly reduce the interaction between the YouTuber and the viewer. "If this is our new reality we're going to need the ability to restrict comments from accounts under 1-4 weeks old," says news commentator and YouTube personality Philip DeFranco. "Sounds like this is prime for weaponization. Also it would probably be best to have an official blog post instead of my tweet as a reference for this change."

4 of 347 comments (clear)

  1. Happy Friday From The Golden Girls! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I hole-hardedly agree, but allow me to play doubles advocate here for a moment. For all intensive purposes I think you are wrong. In an age where false morals are a diamond dozen, true virtues are a blessing in the skies. We often put our false morality on a petal stool like a bunch of pre-Madonnas, but you all seem to be taking something very valuable for granite. So I ask of you to mustard up all the strength you can because it is a doggy dog world out there. Although there is some merit to what you are saying it seems like you have a huge ship on your shoulder. In your argument you seem to throw everything in but the kids Nsync, and even though you are having a feel day with this I am here to bring you back into reality. I have a sick sense when it comes to these types of things. It is almost spooky, because I cannot turn a blonde eye to these glaring flaws in your rhetoric. I have zero taller ants when it comes to people spouting out hate in the name of moral righteousness. You just need to remember what comes around is all around, and when supply and command fails you will be the first to go. Make my words, when you get down to brass stacks it doesn't take rocket appliances to get two birds stoned at once. It's clear who makes the pants in this relationship, and sometimes you just have to swallow your prize and accept the facts. You might have to come to this conclusion through denial and error but I swear on my mother's mating name that when you put the petal to the medal you will pass with flying carpets like it's a peach of cake.

    1. Re:Happy Friday From The Golden Girls! by Trailer+Trash · · Score: 3, Funny

      I hole-hardedly agree,

      Just for your future reference, the phrase is whole-heartedly.. I.e. you agree with your whole heart.

      So, is that the *only* one you're going to correct? Did you even read the rest of it?

  2. Re:How to solve a problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Note: Step 8 is missing because YouTube has ignored that problem

  3. Re: Good grief by tehcyder · · Score: 5, Funny

    The problem is the left and the right which make up 98% of the world are just nuts and demand this sort of bull shit. Advertisers responded. YouTube responded. The 3% who are not nut jobs and want freedom over safety are working on moving to New Hampshire and organizing a free state to be less harmed by the nuts jobs everywhere else.

    Yes, you're 101% correct.

    --
    To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it