With the economic recession beginning to affect even Google, news came out today that the web giant's YouTube property is making some major changes to its video service that are designed to clean up the site's image in the hopes of slowing the massive financial bleeding.
The policy changes were announced in a posting at the YouTube blog. An excerpt from the post is after the jump:
- Stricter standard for mature content - While videos featuring pornographic images or sex acts are always removed from the site when they're flagged, we're tightening the standard for what is considered "sexually suggestive." Videos with sexually suggestive (but not prohibited) content will be age-restricted, which means they'll be available only to viewers who are 18 or older.
- Demotion of sexually suggestive content and profanity - Videos that are considered sexually suggestive, or that contain profanity, will be algorithmically demoted on our 'Most Viewed,' 'Top Favorited,' and other browse pages. The classification of these types of videos is based on a number of factors, including video content and descriptions. In testing, we've found that out of the thousands of videos on these pages, only several each day are automatically demoted for being too graphic or explicit. However, those videos are often the ones which end up being repeatedly flagged by the community as being inappropriate.
- Improved thumbnails - To make sure your thumbnail represents your video, your choices will now be selected algorithmically. You'll still have three thumbnails to choose from, but they will no longer be auto-generated from the 25/50/75 points in the video index. [Designed to stop people from gaming the thumbnail system with suggestive images which are irrelevant to the video.]
- More accurate video information - Our Community Guidelines have always prohibited folks from attempting to game view counts by entering misleading information in video descriptions, tags, titles, and other metadata. We remain serious about enforcing these rules. Remember, violations of these guidelines could result in removal of your video and repeated violations will lead to termination of your account.
All of this is designed to try to boost YouTube's image and stop it from being viewed as a website for teenagers with dirty mouths. One hopes, however, that in its effort to clean up its non-political act when it comes to rogue users, YouTube also takes steps necessary to fix the problem of far-left and Islamist viewers censoring the free speech of others.
—Matthew Sheffield is the creator of NewsBusters and its Executive Editor.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Youtube ain't tring very hard..
December 4, 2008 - 12:54 ET by upcountrywaterJust checked if f**k f*****g Bush F*****r was still up? It still is with its 1.6 million views
oh yea MORE THAN 4 THOUSAND of F*** bush videos.. no blocking at all..
so when does this apply?
Janunary 20, 2009?
DEMOCRAT
School
I dont go to you tube anymore
December 4, 2008 - 12:55 ET by SQL_SamI've tried commenting on the site and I get flamed by 12 year old communist who have no Idea what the real world is about (same thing on DIGG) - they got a camera and think they are going to movie stars. I have to agree it is just a website for teens with dirty mouths.
Entitlement of leisure class
December 4, 2008 - 15:13 ET by ledurchi"Show biz kids making movies
Of themselves you know they
Don't give a !@#$ about anybody else"
Life's wages. They're owed a life's wages.
'fix the problem of far-left and Islamist viewers'
December 4, 2008 - 13:06 ET by JDWThere was an article yesterday encouraging terrorists to promote propaganda through You Tube.
A message was intercepted calling for a You Tube 'invasion'. The cutting, pasting, and uploading is very simple.
'Cleaning up their act is more than just an 'image thing', it now becomes essential to survival.
JDW
DAILY WAVE
One hopes, however, that in
December 4, 2008 - 13:18 ET by R D HelmOne hopes, however, that in its effort to clean up its non-political act when it comes to rogue users, YouTube also takes steps necessary to fix the problem of far-left and Islamist viewers censoring the free speech of others.
LOL-They are probably going after the "racy" stuff just to placate their Islamist viewers. After all, we certainly wouldn't want to offffffffend the Islamists, as that might lead to angry, anti-social public bomb detonations.
I wonder if their new standards are going to be applied to some of those seriously vulgar vids I have seen posted there that are aimed at the current leader of the free world?
Not a chance.
-Dave
When in doubt, always side with freedom, as it sure beats the hell out of the alternative.
We all know they (Youtube)
December 4, 2008 - 15:38 ET by HeavyChevyWe all know they (Youtube) are not going to change much that would affect their core group...young foulmouthed leftist nut jobs. Personally I would love to see Youtube fail as a whole, but I would be equally satisfied if they hurt like hell financially for a while.
YouTube has its problems
December 4, 2008 - 15:55 ET by suzycreamcheeseYouTube has its problems and I hope they get cleaned up because I really appreciate the service. I've watched the docudrama Touching the Void in its entirety (is that even legal?); learned how to make homemade pickles; and watched clips of movie trailers, TV shows, and musical performances.
My little boy loves YouTube and likes to look up what he's interested in at the moment, e.g., skateboarding; the Garfield movie; carving pumpkins. I will guide him to these subjects, but he's apt to click on the videos in the right-hand corner, and sometimes there will be an inappropriate one included in the mix for some odd reason. I just wish the dirty stuff could be put some place else so he won't stumble upon them.
Censorship
December 4, 2008 - 16:14 ET by UtherpendWhat are they planning on removing?? There are no pornographic movies on their site and in fact most of the suggestive stuff you can see on regular TV. Sounds more like they are trying to placate some entity to gain more money or shares.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you"
MTV doesnt like
December 4, 2008 - 16:43 ET by SQL_SamMTV doesnt like competition.....
What are they planning on
December 4, 2008 - 17:28 ET by suzycreamcheeseWhat are they planning on removing?? There are no pornographic movies
on their site and in fact most of the suggestive stuff you can see on
regular TV. Sounds more like they are trying to placate some entity to
gain more money or shares.
When I was searching for some videos on a author I like, in a list of his videos was one about a young girl and her aunt getting it on. I don't remember how risque the video was, but it shouldn't have been there to begin with. So, yes, I do think there are videos on YouTube that show more than you can see on TV.
Looks pretty similar to
December 4, 2008 - 23:00 ET by RR GOPLooks pretty similar to what they already have going on.
I like that site because people have uploaded music videos from the Fifties on up that I have never, ever seen and many I haven't seen in years.
But, I wondered when I started to hear about YouTube all over the damn place how long it would be cool like it was in the beginning-that is, how long before the bean counters would screw it all up.
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.