As I was sharing my most recent article on Twitter this week, I saw the #YouTubeIsOverParty trending. I'm not one to stay up-to-date with trends in social media. I'm far more likely to read a trending world news story. But YouTube plays a part in my daily life. Whether I'm uploading a video to my channel or watching new videos from people I'm subscribed to, YouTube has become an integral part of my life as well as other people's.
If you don't quite know the specifics of what YouTube has done, let's start at the basics. You're able to monetize your videos on YouTube. Essentially, YouTube allows you to allow ads on your videos and you make money. It's mutually beneficial to YouTube, the advertisers, and the content creator. Seems pretty cool right? However, YouTube has changed the guidelines which outline what type of videos can be monetized. These guidelines are tightening the noose on many popular YouTubers (who make a lot of money for YouTube) making videos for a living.
What are these guidelines you may ask? The broad term states that any content that is not "advertiser-friendly" will not be eligible for monetization. A more specific look at these guidelines reveals that things like sexual humor, inappropriate language (including profanity or vulgar language), and "controversial or sensitive subjects and events, including subjects related to war, political conflicts, natural disasters and tragedies, even if graphic imagery is not shown" are not allowed in videos if they wish to be monetized. If a channel does not comply with these guidelines, they can be permanently suspended or banned from monetizing their videos. There are some of the guidelines that I agree with (such as the partial nudity, violent extremism, and promotions of drugs) but the the overarching question here is what does this do to the idea of freedom of speech and being yourself (as YouTube boasts as a selling point for its creators).
Looking at these new guidelines, I think how they will effect YouTube's top creators. Take for example, Pewdiepie, who is one of the top earners on the site. He made a reported $12,000,000 last year. If you've ever seen one of his videos, he (as well as many other well-known YouTubers) cuss and make inappropriate jokes. It's how they relate to their audiences. It's who they are. The idea that they should be penalized for being themselves is ridiculous. Not to mention that the guidelines YouTube has pushed out are moving towards censorship. The other thing that really bothers me about this ordeal is the guideline that states that inappropriate advertising content is anything political, controversial, or sensitive in nature. So we can't report on the news? We can't give our opinion on the Brock Turner Rape case? Syrian refugees? The Presidential election? Where are we headed as a society? We're allowing companies to censor our beliefs and our opinions. Furthermore, YouTube is allowing themselves to compromise their own ideals by caving into advertiser wishes. Grow a backbone. Stand up for the creators that have been with you since the beginning.
