By Sumahid Chowdhury
Youtube is the world’s largest video sharing website, utilized by thousands of users. Companies and individuals made their name on Youtube including Pewdiepie, Machinima, vlogbrothers John and Hank Green, Crash Course, and Geek & Sundry. With the addition of monetization through ads, viewer and like counts, people use the platform as their career. With the increase in popularity of Youtube over the years, one might expect greater cooperation between user and platform, but over the last few months, several problems have arisen.
Gaming has been a dominating field on YouTube, where men and women share videos commentating on games they like. Video game reviewers will upload their criticisms and praises as well, voicing their opinions on the product with footage of said product. Unfortunately, harsh criticisms have led gaming companies to copyright or outright take down videos. TotalBiscuit, a British video game reviewer, has faced several copyright claims on his videos and has been threatened with a lawsuit if he did not comply to the company’s orders. Copyright claims will demonetize a user’s video, which means money will not be made on that video; a bad case especially when most on Youtube are dependant on the website for money.
Youtubers have often engaged in vicious disputes with one another, threatening one party with defamation and a lawsuit. If one Youtuber were to critique or criticize another Youtuber for the content that they make or the individual themself, they will face threats and will spread malicious rumors, as was the case between Youtubers Pyrocynical and DramaAlert.
York Suburban senior Jacob Hughes said, “Large corporations abuse their right to copyright videos to silence those who would wish to be honest with a product, which goes against freedom of speech.”
With the continued success and rise of Youtube, and the addition of many young and aspiring Youtubers, the company faces problems surrounding its algorithms and how it should proceed regarding its users and its features.