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I think the problem is less what YouTube is doing here and more that YouTube has this kind of power. If every country had 10 video Websites like Youtube that ea

I think the problem is less what YouTube is doing here and more that YouTube has this kind of power. If every country had 10 video Websites like Youtube that each had a 10th of the users from that country, and maybe some international users, then one portal taking a total ban-all hard-ass stance on misinformation wouldn't be a big deal. tldr: Monopolies bad, YouTube bad, facebook bad.

Spivak 5y ago
Okay so you have your wish, there are 10 major video sites in the US who all have 5-20% market share. The forces that push one service moderate content will push the others. Like there are a lot of social networks, have you noticed that every single one is monitoring for COVID related content and adding a banner? tldr: competition can't solve political issues because there's a monopoly on government
- musingsole 5y ago
  There is government pressure (more correctly just social pressure) but the government hasn't given a mandate that these platforms must take this censorship stance. And even then, this is only an issue because everyone is on just a handful of platforms -- so the companies build one-size-fits-all policies. But we're not all the same size. I'm not terrified of my community encountering misinformation. I'm far more terrified of a community being unable to articulate and defend why the information is "mis".
  - tastyfreeze 5y ago
    "We're flagging problematic posts for Facebook..." - Jen Psaki 7/15/2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0aWGsxyYPg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0aWGsxyYPg
  - distribot 5y ago
    The US government can't mandate that censorship tact, right? Sounds like a first amendment violation?
    - Grustaf 5y ago
      The US government is quite happy to start wars all across the world, obviously they are not above leaning on the media to get their point across.
wsatb 5y ago
What type of power do they really have? If you don't like their policies, don't use their services, it's that simple. The only power is in their user base. YouTube is not some necessary utility, neither is Facebook, Twitter, etc. None of these services are worth anything without users. Social networks are unprecedented in our world. Never have you been able to spread misinformation and propaganda as quickly. I don't know what the right answer is, but it certainly shouldn't be to sit back and do nothing because "censorship". This misinformation campaign is actively killing people.
- enchiridion 5y ago
  The right answer might be to sit back and do nothing. That seems just as likely to be correct as any intervention. Eroding trust by overtly controlling information sets the scene for propaganda to take deeper root.
  - wsatb 5y ago
    > Eroding trust by overtly controlling information sets the scene for propaganda to take deeper root. Your choice is to either put the propaganda in front of more eyes or have the current believers doubling down, and you choose the few? The problem is the general population does not critically think enough for the sit back and do nothing approach to work in the real world. Also, let's be clear: the eroded trust is with a private company that owns a community-driven platform. I know I'm getting downvoted, but seriously, move on if you don't trust them, their entire business is made from you using their service.
    - humanrebar 5y ago
      Post offices, libraries, and telephone calls all transmit misinformation every day. Shoot, misinformation gets spread across tables at Dunkin Donuts as people talk about life. And that's not even getting more political and pointing out all the liars and fools in charge of newspapers and even governments. I'm not saying they're all bad. I'm saying we're not considering banning politicians and newspapers for being too incorrect. Partly because the practice of choosing and empowering censors is even worse.

Spivak 5y ago

Okay so you have your wish, there are 10 major video sites in the US who all have 5-20% market share. The forces that push one service moderate content will push the others. Like there are a lot of social networks, have you noticed that every single one is monitoring for COVID related content and adding a banner? tldr: competition can't solve political issues because there's a monopoly on government

musingsole 5y ago
There is government pressure (more correctly just social pressure) but the government hasn't given a mandate that these platforms must take this censorship stance. And even then, this is only an issue because everyone is on just a handful of platforms -- so the companies build one-size-fits-all policies. But we're not all the same size. I'm not terrified of my community encountering misinformation. I'm far more terrified of a community being unable to articulate and defend why the information is "mis".
- tastyfreeze 5y ago
  "We're flagging problematic posts for Facebook..." - Jen Psaki 7/15/2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0aWGsxyYPg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0aWGsxyYPg
- distribot 5y ago
  The US government can't mandate that censorship tact, right? Sounds like a first amendment violation?
  - Grustaf 5y ago
    The US government is quite happy to start wars all across the world, obviously they are not above leaning on the media to get their point across.

wsatb 5y ago

What type of power do they really have? If you don't like their policies, don't use their services, it's that simple. The only power is in their user base. YouTube is not some necessary utility, neither is Facebook, Twitter, etc. None of these services are worth anything without users. Social networks are unprecedented in our world. Never have you been able to spread misinformation and propaganda as quickly. I don't know what the right answer is, but it certainly shouldn't be to sit back and do nothing because "censorship". This misinformation campaign is actively killing people.

enchiridion 5y ago
The right answer might be to sit back and do nothing. That seems just as likely to be correct as any intervention. Eroding trust by overtly controlling information sets the scene for propaganda to take deeper root.
- wsatb 5y ago
  > Eroding trust by overtly controlling information sets the scene for propaganda to take deeper root. Your choice is to either put the propaganda in front of more eyes or have the current believers doubling down, and you choose the few? The problem is the general population does not critically think enough for the sit back and do nothing approach to work in the real world. Also, let's be clear: the eroded trust is with a private company that owns a community-driven platform. I know I'm getting downvoted, but seriously, move on if you don't trust them, their entire business is made from you using their service.
  - humanrebar 5y ago
    Post offices, libraries, and telephone calls all transmit misinformation every day. Shoot, misinformation gets spread across tables at Dunkin Donuts as people talk about life. And that's not even getting more political and pointing out all the liars and fools in charge of newspapers and even governments. I'm not saying they're all bad. I'm saying we're not considering banning politicians and newspapers for being too incorrect. Partly because the practice of choosing and empowering censors is even worse.