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posted by martyb on Sunday February 24 2019, @08:30AM   Printer-friendly
from the no-comment dept.

After Child Video Scandal, YouTube Says Ad-Friendly Videos Can Be Demonetized For Inappropriate Comments

In light of a potential second coming of the Adpocalypse, in which a number of major marketers have pulled YouTube ads after discovering that campaigns had run against ostensibly innocent videos of young children where pedophiles were exchanging fetishizing remarks in the comments, YouTube is taking severe pains to stamp out the behavior — but not all creators are thrilled with its sweeping response.

On Twitter, Christian family vlogger Jessica Ballinger — who shares videos with her husband, Christopher, and their four children (pictured above), including Parker, a five-year-old gymnast — expressed dismay that a handful of recent vlogs had been demonetized. YouTube acknowledged that while the clips themselves were ad-friendly, in light of the recent controversy, "even if your video is suitable for advertisers, inappropriate comments could result in your video receiving limited or no ads (yellow icon)." (According to YouTube's monetization icon guide, a yellow icon means that videos are not suitable for most advertisers).

Ballinger, whose channel counts 1.2 million subscribers, countered that she monitors her comment section stringently, and suggested that rather than punishing channels like hers, YouTube remove the offending comments and ban the users. However, the company said its "recent actions are due to an abundance of caution related to content that may endanger minors." It continued, "Not all channels do moderate, and we've had to take an aggressive approach and more broad action at this time. We're also investing in improving our tools to detect/remove this content, so we rely on your moderation less."

YouTube has backtracked, with a representative saying that videos that seem likely to attract predatory comments could have advertising restricted. But the damage is probably done, and YouTube creators may start disabling comment sections and doing outreach off-site in order to avoid the "someone sneezes and the video is demonetized" problem. That or they will write off monetization entirely, turning to Patreon and other platforms to supplement their income.

Matt Watson, the YouTuber credited for spearheading the latest adpocalypse, has been criticized for urging his livestream viewers to contact advertisers directly and ask them to pull ads from YouTube. In response to an argument that this hurts YouTube and video creators rather than pedophiles, Watson said that affected YouTubers can "go work at KFC".

See also: YouTubers fear looming 'adpocalypse' after child exploitation controversy
YouTube's child predator comment controversy: all the latest updates
YouTube's Ad Revolt Seen Fleeting. Brands Just Can't Quit Google

Related: YouTube AI Bots Are Now Heavily Involved in the Task of Removing "Problematic" Videos
YouTube Announces "Channel Memberships" and Other Ways for Creators to Make Money
YouTube Considering Removing the "Dislike" Button to Stop "Mobs"
Study Blames YouTube for Rise in Number of Flat Earthers


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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Sunday February 24 2019, @10:40AM (5 children)

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Sunday February 24 2019, @10:40AM (#805889) Journal

    This is the two-thousand teens. Prostitution is a thing. The Kardashians drive that point home. Automation, globalization, immigration, and self flagellation have eliminated honest work. The only way to get ahead these days, is prostitution. All of the politicians will confirm that, as they got where they are by prostituting themselves.

    You seem to be suggesting that people with children should avoid prostitution? They they shouldn't pimp their kids on the intertubes? We need to investigate your motives - they may well be racist.

    Starting Score:    1  point
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    Total Score:   5  
  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 24 2019, @10:55AM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 24 2019, @10:55AM (#805894)

    ..., immigration, ... have eliminated honest work.

    Another idiotic comment from Runaway ... who would have thunked it?

    • (Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 24 2019, @05:06PM (2 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 24 2019, @05:06PM (#805968)

      I agree with immigration eliminating honest work. A Mexican coworker has a house in Rosarito Beach (would be worth millions here) but works in San Diego ripping off people with substandard work (that I usually have to fix). He has no regard for workmanship, only quick money. I haven't worked with one Mexican that gave a shit in the 40 years I've had to work near them.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 24 2019, @08:11PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 24 2019, @08:11PM (#806023)

        To be fair if he lives in Rosarito Beach and works in the USA, he is probably too exhausted to give a shit.

        After all, he does have a 4 to 6 hour commute each day.
        Just getting from Rosarito to the line to wait at the border is a 2 hour drive on a good day assuming nobody had an accident on the toll road.

        If your or any of your passengers skin happens to be brown and/or your name is Mexican sounding, you are getting bodily frisked, possibly with a cavity search and your car deep searched each day on your way into the USA, natural born citizen or not.

        On your way back from the USA, SAT might just take your car from you if you have USA plates and crossed once too often that month, but at least they are reasonably quick about it.

        True story happened to me, it's why I stopped commuting and just got better internet access by moving to Ensenada.

        San Ysidro was the worst, but Otay Mesa really wasn't much better.

        p.s. Where the hell in Rosarito Beach are houses that would be worth millions in the USA, even Cali? Rosarito Beach is all cheaply built housing designed to be owned by Mexican families. Even "big homes" in brand new developments like Puerto Azul are less than $50k USD because they are made with beachsand in the concrete, substandard wiring and typical Mexican plumbing. The only place you might find homes that would be worth millions in the USA are in Gringolandia like Playa La Mision, where no Mexican lives anyways.

      • (Score: 2, Interesting) by Ethanol-fueled on Monday February 25 2019, @02:19AM

        by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Monday February 25 2019, @02:19AM (#806142) Homepage

        My favorite gotcha with Mexican work is that cleanup isn't included in the deal. Being a naive White man living in a nation with a higher standard of living, I decided to save a few bucks on a renovation and hire Mexican labor to do it.

        Hand them your car and you're gonna get it back with oil stains and cigarette burns on the upholstery. Let them do drywall or tile and let them leave your place a lumber scrapyard with scraps that have no reason whatsoever to be there. If you are naive, and this is your first time hiring Mexican labor, you won't say anything about the mess because they will surely clean it up before they leave for good like everybody so far, no? And you wouldn't ask such a question -- whether and when they will clean up their mess -- because that culturally insensitive and like accusing them of being dirty Mexicans, yes?

    • (Score: 2, Insightful) by PlasticCogLiquid on Sunday February 24 2019, @10:42PM

      by PlasticCogLiquid (3669) on Sunday February 24 2019, @10:42PM (#806063)

      Another dumbass that relentlessly hates on Runaway even though his points are completely valid... Go fuck yourself.