YouTube is probably the most famous video platform on the Internet today, with some creators making full time jobs out of creating content. But, is this the end? Controversy erupted on Wednesday, when creator Philip DeFranco posted a video titled "YouTube Is Shutting Down My Channel and I'm Not Sure What To Do." Sure, YouTube isn't pulling the plug on some of its most well known channels, but it might as well be. Demonetization, it may just be the death of YouTube.
It recently came to light that YouTube has been demonetizing videos it deems to not be advertiser friendly. It makes sense in the abstract sense of wanting to ensure advertisers are happy, but in practice it is amounting to censorship. YouTube is a very diverse platform with videos ranging from makeup tutorials to cooking videos to analysis of important news topics. Yet, even with such a far reaching range of content creators across all genres are finding their videos demonetized due to the content. Basically what this means is that YouTube has disabled the advertisements for the video in question, meaning the creator makes no money on it. For many channels, YouTube is their livelihood, and they may even be employing others to help edit or produce these videos. When the ability to make money disappears creating videos like these is no longer a profitable or even to an extent viable option.
You may be a little upset, thinking content creation shouldn't be about the money. Well for most YouTube creators, they aren't filthy rich on the backs of their viewers. For every huge name on the site like PewDiePie, Jenna Marbles or NigaHiga, there are literally thousands of creators who don't make much if any money. For those YouTubers who bring in enough from ads and merchandise to make YouTube their job or at least limit other jobs to focus on their channel, demonetization is extremely harmful. I wish I could say that the videos affected were in some way overly explicit. At least that I would understand, but it simply is not the case. As I heard the news I thought about all the channels I subscribe to, it seems almost every one could face the ridiculous enforcement of YouTube's policies. Delving a little further, I realized that actually did happen. Possibly one of the most appropriate channels, vlogbrothers, even saw demonetization of a few of its videos.
Sure, YouTube isn't explicitly saying creators can't make videos or say what they want to say, but they still are sending that message. I understand the desire to advertise on channels which are good representations for the companies willing to pay for ads. That being said, the videos losing ad revenue aren't particularly vulgar or NSFW in any way. Because of the broad strokes the policy is being applied with, videos discussing controversial topics are being affected. The policy states "controversial or sensitive subjects and events, including subjects related to war, political conflicts, natural disasters and tragedies" are all deemed inappropriate for advertising. It seems that this can be applied to almost any video, and that is a true tragedy.
Current events almost all fit into the above description making videos discussing them — either advocating for a cause or rallying against it — at risk for losing ad revenue. But we need people to talk about current events and controversial topics. Sexism, rape, refugees, immigration, the election, these are all sensitive and controversial topics. These and many more need to be discussed and looked at from other perspectives. It isn't really a secret that the television media is incredibly biased, making the small content creator on YouTube more important. Even when we disagree with the opinion being stated, it's hard to argue that the discussion isn't important. Just think about the role the Internet played in the Brock Turner rape case, we shouldn't keep Internet creators from voicing their opinions and furthering discussions. By limiting creator's ability to support themselves, YouTube makes these voices unviable. Sure they haven't removed the videos, but they are effectively stopping creators from making them in the first place.
