One gets the sense that YouTube is downranking and filtering content according to a branding effort that projects a certain image. Thus, anything in conflict wi

One gets the sense that YouTube is downranking and filtering content according to a branding effort that projects a certain image. Thus, anything in conflict with the desired YouTube brand (especially if not feeding the financial flow), regardless of real trends, gets smothered. HN actually operates the same way, albeit as an aggregator, and thus with greater subtlety.