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News: Youtube’s “Restricted Mode” Hides LGBTQ Content

Troye Sican, Tyler Oakley, and Hannah Hart are just some of the prominent LGBTQ people that first found success on Youtube. They and other LGBTQ creators have sizeable followings on the site, so when it appeared like Youtube was hiding LGTBQ content, the video-sharing site immediately faced a backlash.

The controversy began over Youtube’s “Restricted Mode”, which is meant to automatically filter out “offensive content”. However, it appears that restricted mode has ended up hiding LGBTQ-themed videos, even if nothing sexual or adult is discussed. The alleged censorship was first brought up by Youtuber Rowan Ellis, who said that this move by Youtube implies a “bias” because it “equates LGBT with ‘not family friendly’”.

For instance, Tyler Oakley says that his video, “8 Black LGBTQ+ Trailblazers Who Inspire Me”, is hidden when Youtube is in Restricted Mode.

Musicians Tegan and Sara also say that some of their music videos also disappear in Restricted Mode.

 

Trans YouTuber SeaineLove also says that her “I Am Transgender” video disappears when the site is in Restricted Mode, despite the video being harmless and with the swear words censored.

Youtube says that Restricted Mode relies on “community flagging, age-restrictions, and other signals to identify and filter out potentially inappropriate content.” The outcry — which has resulted in the hashtags #YouTubeIsOverParty and #YouTubeRestricted — has led to Youtube releasing a statement about the situation, saying that they “are looking into your concerns.”

What do you guys think about this brewing controversy? Do you think Youtube’s response was sufficient? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.


There are 15 comments

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  1. L4S

    I had a sense that I was under surveillance when I was using my computer at home, when I surfed the web, at a computer school in Rahway, New Jersey. I used a proxy server then. I had a feeling that the same was happening in the library there. After I moved to my current location, after an abduction and confinement in a mental institution for almost 7 months, my FiOS was compromised so I had to use one at home.

    There was another piece to the puzzle. I used a proxy server when I was on Craigslist and cleaning up the blackmailers who were dogging me. interesting thing, I kept getting blocked by Craigslist! Imagine that.

  2. Natesillyo

    Did you just assume my gender?

    I mean I think we’re all getting pretty fucking sensitive on planet Earth. I love cock probably more than the guy next to me. But when I get on a porn site. Would I like for it to filter out all the straight stuff? Ugh yeah!
    I understand the article isn’t pertaining to porn but yet a LGBT YouTuber. But I’m not nessicarily against that being a part of the filter. (Although they should add a “I don’t wanna see straight shit” filter)
    If your gonna argue that’s offensive you my as well join the army of the people offended by the other filters. Oh your video isn’t in the most popular catagory? I’m offended.
    Not most watched.
    I’m offended.
    Biracial?
    I’m offended.

    Do you read news articles often in the trendy magazines about straight fairing? Or shuffle through the pages and look for th Channing Tatum shirtless article?

    Please stop being so sensitive. We all filter out the content we either don’t wanna see or care about. Fortunately YouTube just added a catagory to it’s filters to help you out with that.

  3. Hunter0500

    Sucks when “equality” means you don’t own the place, eh?

    Maybe it’s just time we all just be people instead of throwing our LGBTQS-ness into everyone else’s face constantly.

  4. Giocondo

    No one person or group is owed any right to YouTube.
    If a YouTube type platform is critical to some lgbtq person or group they are free to create their own website and fully control the content so I say go for it.
    By the way, constantly crying foul and trying to create controversy where there is none is counter-productive and people quickly see through it.

  5. Rick

    It nothing new even Spectrum is doing weird censer ship on there pay preview M4M channels and there only doing it to the m4m channel. I’m not really one to be sticking up for porn but it strikes me that this is suppose to be equality. I guess they want the younger gays to be more virgin like then my generation. Heck it was my generation that’s had to fight for respect just look what have they ask the girl scouts not a thing there focused on the boy scouts. I say fix the MR & Mr. and the respect will work it’s self out. But also sites need to check for the word widowed because many sites have not updated there lang. terms.

  6. Michael Newell

    ADAM4ADAM, you bring up this subject of “unintended censorship” while your own social app has this draconian software embedded in your website that masks or blsnks out certain “offensive” words that violate what you community standards. Recently i wrote the word “contrarian”. Just what guideline, community standard or part of hate speech is contrarian an offense part of self expression. Your site reeks of hypocrisy.

    • Dave

      The app is censored because of google and apple’s policy, some words are forbidden because some users of apps are underaged or CAN be underaged. Even if a4a is rated 18+ they oblige us to be g rated. The website and mobile website are not censored, feel free to use those instead of the app.

  7. vincent

    I had to stop this video and that whining about what a dreadful thing this is. Correct or not SOME PEOPLE DONT LIKE TRANSGENDERS! Why should they or their families be subjected to offensive subjects. While i believe this censorship is ignorant…face it transies..you are maybe 0.5% of the population…a subset of a subset…Geez that whole cis gender nonsense….use the bathroom that the m other 99.95% of the population prefers…and dont cry about it..we all have to conform
    When i was a kid..a hotdog commercial song “what kind of kids eat armor hot dogs? Fat kids skinny kids kids that clinb on rocks…tough kids SISSY kids…” Could you imagine? No evil intent there..actually included sissy kids…generally not the most popular…im sicilian..its often assumed i have mob ties…i dont cry….then again i i have mob ties…JUST KIDDING! Its a joke! Get a life

  8. Goldenloverinmym

    if parents dont want their kids to see stuff they should monitor and check on them, giving a kid access to the most open web in the world is not a baby sitter in itself. i don’t think they should restrict anything. if you dont want to watch something DON’T watch it but dont keep me from watching it if i chose to is everything there when not in restricted mode?


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