YouTube has come under fire again for demonitizing videos that have “inappropriate” comments from the community posted on them.
The video platform has been accused of “punishing creators” with the move, which could cost YouTubers a serious amount of $$$ if people decide to behave inappropriately in the comments section.
Hey @TeamYouTube Why have comments been disabled on my entire channel?? pic.twitter.com/yCZbNy86r5
— Will Lenney (@Will__NE) February 23, 2019
It’s been pointed out on Twitter that if someone doesn’t like a particular content creator, a bot could be used to spam the channel with comments that could lead to the death of the channel – or even the demonitization of everything on the platform.
With YouTube’s new rule, someone could make a bot that comments on every video something inappropriate so the whole platform gets demonetized
— Emerald the Fox (@XEMERALD_W0LFX) February 22, 2019
The controversial move comes in response to claims that adverts for things like Fortnite were appearing before videos that showed child exploitation networks in the comments.
TheWrap reports that when asked, a YouTube spokesperson told the publication that the “company had deleted hundreds of channels and thousands of comments tied to child exploitation. YouTube also disabled comments on tens of millions of video featuring minors.”
everyone: please stop people from making inappropriate videos
YouTube: we’re demonetizing videos that receive bad comments pic.twitter.com/DypNduU5CN
— Mister Eyuss (@MisterEyuss) February 25, 2019
YouTube has done some DUMB stuff in my time. But this could set a new record.
IF YOU CAN DETECT INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS WHY NOT JUST DELETE THEM INSTEAD OF PUNISHING THE CREATOR? pic.twitter.com/T5y2UEhlaN
— Muselk (@MrMuselk) February 22, 2019
Whether the change stays implemented or not, we’re likely to see a huge shift on the platform yet again.
Was YouTube right to attack the comments sections of its videos, or has it finally gone one step too far…?
Featured Image Credit: YouTube