Youtube Blacklists Offensive Comedy and News Creator - The Youtube Purge Redux
Fullscreen, the multi channel network, has severed ties to several creators. The reason is unclear and I have verified that at least one of the channels is in perfect standing with no ToS violations.So why did Youtube force Fullscreen to drop these creators? Could this be the precursor to outright banning certain channels?SUPPORT JOURNALISM. Become a patron athttp://www.patreon.com/TimcastSupport the show (http://timcast.com/donate)
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Today, I am going to highlight three channels that have been removed by their multi-channel network.
I'll give you a brief understanding of what a multi-channel network is and why it's important, and then provide you with some speculation on what I think is happening, but suffice it to say, I think YouTube is currently in a downward spiral.
I am not confident about my ability to produce on the platform, and I think this is reflected by other high-profile creators.
Ultimately, I think if things keep going the way they're going, there's either going to be a huge collapse of this independent video making community, this culture, or there has to be some kind of alternative.
I already put my videos up on several different websites, including Minds.com.
That's M-I-N-D-S dot com slash Timcast.
So go subscribe there if you are concerned about losing access to my content, because I certainly am.
This is my job.
But today's video is about the new YouTube blacklist, the change in YouTube policies,
and why I think this might actually start the end of YouTube as a viable platform for independent creation.
Before we get started, make sure you go to my YouTube page, youtube.com slash Timcast,
click subscribe, and click the little bell.
And this is kind of new, now you have to click all.
They made it even harder for you to get notifications.
It's absolutely ridiculous.
YouTube just seems to get worse and worse.
And this video is about, well, YouTube getting worse, so stay tuned for that!
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Assuming Patreon still exists in the future, so if you want to support my work, go to patreon.com slash TimCast, click become a patron, and choose whatever amount works for you.
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A couple days ago, I made a video talking about the new YouTube blacklist.
Today, I'm going to expand on this.
I talked about how a channel was removed.
The MCN said this was the request of YouTube, and they had no choice in the matter.
Today, I am going to name three channels where this has happened, and I am going to name the multi-channel network, and it's fullscreen.
So first, I am signed with Fullscreen.
I have interviewed the CEO before.
I know him.
I met him a long time ago.
So there is a definite conflict of interest.
Keep that in mind.
In my opinion, I don't think this is going to affect my judgment, but it's important that you know my channel does receive benefits and has a business arrangement with Fullscreen.
Fullscreen has provided me with a couple statements on the matter, and I will get to that in a moment.
Now, a multi-channel network is essentially a company that represents a large group of different YouTubers.
So these YouTubers don't actually have a business deal with YouTube, they have a business deal with the multi-channel network.
So essentially, When I get paid for advertisements that appear on my YouTube channel, it comes from Fullscreen, not from Google.
Okay?
That's an important distinction.
YouTube has no contract or payment system with me.
It is with Fullscreen.
Again, very important as we move forward.
The first channel I'm going to bring up is DeAndreSigas at Sigas.
He said on Twitter, Sadly, this truly finally looks to be the end my nation.
Video shortly.
guys. Fullscreen has just removed me from their partnership at the request of YouTube. Sadly,
this truly finally looks to be the end my nation video shortly. And he published this email. Hi
DeAndre, I have some really unfortunate news to share about your Fullscreen partnership.
Due to YouTube's modifications to its partnership program and implementation of stricter content guidelines, we are required to restructure our network to ensure conformity.
As a result, channels are being removed from the Fullscreen network because they no longer meet YouTube's qualifications or the content on the removed channels no longer complies with YouTube's service and community standards.
The recent issues you have had on your channel have caused you to be flagged to us, and we must remove you.
Unfortunately, this is a very sudden decision that comes from YouTube and is out of our control.
Your channel will be removed from the network on 4-11, and I am truly sorry we are not able to keep you with us.
Believe me, I did try.
You can immediately reapply for YouTube AdSense, and you will be paid out your final earnings on the normal schedule.
DeAndre Sigis on Twitter says he is a very angry black comedian, mostly known from the internets, and he has about 27,000 followers on Twitter.
But, DeAndre Sigis, the Motivational Funny Man, has 582,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Now, they claim that there were recent issues with his channel.
I don't know what those are.
I don't know if he has any strikes.
I just got a message from Fullscreen.
been on YouTube since nearly the inception of YouTube. His oldest video
says, sorry Joe Rogan for the fight epic story and it's from 10 years ago. So this
is somebody who has been on YouTube for over a decade. DeAndre made a very sad
video talking about how he fears this might be the termination of his channel.
unidentified
I just got a message from fullscreen, they're terminating my partnership with
the company because at the request of YouTube because of the new stricter
guidelines and I don't fit into the criteria anymore I'm being removed from
fullscreen partnership.
Bye.
I think this is because YouTube is about to terminate my account, and it would be easier if there was no network involved, and they can just terminate my account because of my type of humor.
If my account is terminated soon, I just want to tell you guys thank you.
I really wanted to try to save the world.
I really wanted to make a difference with my type of comedy.
With the things I said.
Sometimes my words do offend people.
It's just how I am.
I just talk freely.
That means my monetization on the entire channel is gonna go.
A multi-channel network, like Fullscreen, will represent your channel along with many others, and it can actually help you because it's hard for so many creators to actually talk to YouTube.
There's way too many, something like 50 million, and I'm probably wrong on that number.
So, an MCN, multi-channel network, can actually help because they can prioritize you and get better access to YouTube.
But it's also important to point out that these MCNs are third-party companies.
They have to abide by the YouTube rules just like everyone else.
So I think there's a reason why these channels are being flagged for removal from multi-channel networks.
And I think DeAndre mentioned it, and he brought up a very good point.
It would be somewhat more difficult for YouTube to terminate a channel if it was part of an MCN, because YouTube has a deal with a network which includes many channels.
Fullscreen, I don't know the exact number, but I believe they have like a thousand plus or more creators they represent.
And if YouTube just went in and started deleting channels that were part of Fullscreen, that's YouTube sort of in confrontation with Fullscreen and not those individual creators.
If YouTube says, get rid of these creators from your network, and Fullscreen has to apply with YouTube policy, then those creators are no longer protected as part of a network, and could easily be terminated.
On April 6th, CrazyRabbit on Twitter said, would just like to know why, and he included this snippet.
Unfortunately, your channel will be removed from its full-screen network partnership in accordance with these changes on Monday, April 9th.
This is a decision that comes from YouTube and is out of our control.
CrazyRabbit on YouTube has 121,000 subscribers, is a verified user, and it looks like he makes Gaming content.
So he's got Call of Duty zombies, the different weapons that you use in the game, Fortnite videos, and other gaming content.
So, I don't know if this individual has any strikes on their channel, but this looks like it's just a gaming channel.
And the third channel, this is someone I actually know, so again, conflict of interest.
I've known Luke of WeAreChange for six years now.
And so I've talked to him about this.
I consider him a friend, so keep that in mind as I report the story.
I don't think it's going to impact my reporting of this, but I want you to know that I do know Luke.
Luke has 516,000 subscribers.
He has also been on YouTube since nearly the beginning of YouTube.
Luke's channel is news content, so he talks about what happened with Trump and Syria, he talks about cryptocurrencies, and he's actually traveled to some faraway lands like Zimbabwe and Venezuela and other places.
Luke received a statement from Fullscreen.
And what they said was, Lucas told me, he has no strikes on his channel, his channel is in good standing, he recently did a livestream, and he has absolutely no problems, other than he gets demonetized all the time, and that's to be expected considering his channel is news and political commentary.
So, if this isn't about violating the terms of service, what is it really about?
Maybe it's not one issue.
Maybe all of these creators are being flagged for different reasons.
But either way, they have all been removed by Fullscreen, and presumably because YouTube ordered Fullscreen to do it.
I reached out to Fullscreen for a statement, and here is what they told me.
My question was, I have heard that YouTube has flagged users and forced their MCNs to drop them.
Specifically, I have heard that Fullscreen has dropped a creator because YouTube made them do it.
Is this true, and can you tell me anything about what is happening?
The response I received was, Fullscreen is committed to building a network in which creators and fans are empowered, encouraged, and entertained.
We are supportive of YouTube's efforts to further that objective by improving community standards across the platform.
They followed up by saying, Well, I don't personally hold the multi-channel networks responsible for YouTube enacting these policies.
any further comment on this matter beyond the statement Kim already provided below best.
While I don't personally hold the multi-channel networks responsible for YouTube enacting these
policies, I do want to point out that Fullscreen's initial response is that they are supportive
of YouTube's efforts in updating community standards, and that they said they didn't
remove anyone without cause.
Now, I responded with another question asking them to clarify what they meant by cause, to which they have not responded, because what does cause really mean?
This is a PR response, and I am absolutely unsatisfied with it, because they didn't tell me anything.
And I understand that they have to protect themselves, and it's important to keep in mind that I am also part of Fullscreen.
Many other people are part of Fullscreen.
And I would imagine that, for one, this business wants to make sure they can survive.
And that means they have to be very careful as well.
If they violate YouTube policy, they can get severed too, just like any other channel.
But not only that, they represent many other channels.
So...
If Fullscreen makes a wrong move against YouTube, it could negatively impact everyone.
And it seems like the worst case compromise is that getting rid of the channels because YouTube said to is the only way to make sure they can continue to function and to make sure that the other creators can remain supported by the MCN.
However, they said they haven't removed anybody without cause.
And what does that mean?
Does that mean that YouTube said, remove these channels, and that was cause enough for Fullscreen to do it?
Or, are they actually stating this is because these channels violated the terms of service of YouTube?
I don't think it's the latter.
Although in DeAndre's case, they said recent issues with your channel have caused YouTube to flag it, in the instance of WeAreChange, they have no community strikes.
Their channel is in good standing.
So what changes to the terms of service happened that fullscreen would consider to be cause?
In this instance, the only cause I can think of is YouTube said fullscreen, you have to do this, and fullscreen said that's cause enough for us.
One thing that we need to note that's extremely important is that it would seem that there are many channels who have been on YouTube forever who are being negatively impacted.
Why?
Well, ten years ago, the rules on YouTube were very different.
And today, the rules are very strict.
So, if you have really old videos from ten years ago that were totally fine back then, but today violate the rules, you're gonna start getting strikes, you're gonna start getting flagged, and your channel could very well be terminated.
To go back to what DeAndre said, I think this might actually be the precursor to totally stripping these channels of their Partner Program privileges, which can be devastating.
It may actually lead to total termination of these channels.
I don't know.
I really don't know why YouTube would say, remove these particular channels, and I'm particularly confused about Luke's channel, because Luke, his channel's in good standing.
It's one thing if he had numerous strikes, but he doesn't.
So there's no warning.
There's no notification.
It's one day these creators woke up and said, you have been removed from your MCN, stripping you of special access and privileges.
And this is what I mean by sweating bullets.
I don't know why these channels were removed.
I don't know why they were flagged.
But it's worrisome when you see even Philip DeFranco being negatively impacted by these policies, because he's on YouTube, but he's a pretty mainstream kind of guy.
The things he says are not too offbeat from any other channel.
So what is he doing that YouTube is adversely acting upon his channel?
And does that mean I'm just a lower priority, but I'm still in line for the same acts?
Does that mean that I better back off from doing this and just go for a regular job?
Otherwise, I'm gonna go hungry?
Because YouTube isn't telling people what they're doing wrong.
They're not notifying people of these changes, and they're not giving anyone the ability to rectify the problems.
So what does YouTube want?
No one knows.
All that's going to happen is that the people who manage to produce the content that YouTube likes will survive, and everyone else, whether or not their content is totally fine, are going to get axed.
Why should Philip DeFranco be getting negatively impacted when his videos are just typical commentary?
Why should news creators face the same thing when news is extremely important and exists everywhere?
Now, to all the naysayers, I understand YouTube isn't the only place to produce videos, and it's not the only place I publish my videos.
It's just the best option right now, and the reason I am bringing up these issues is because it's going to have a profound impact on hundreds of thousands, on millions of people.
Keeping in mind that some of these big creators have half a million subs.
Some of them have millions of subscribers, and they are being negatively impacted.
And may find themselves actually removed from the program and may find their careers abruptly ending.
And that's just not cool.
If you can't find stability on the platform, then what's the point of being here?
And maybe it's time people started going somewhere else.
But let me know what you think in the comments below and we'll keep the conversation going.
Full screen.
They've removed several creators.
We don't really know why.
I'm not satisfied with their statement, but it is what it is.
YouTube is changing their policies and removing people who haven't even violated the terms of service of YouTube.
