YouTube Gets Tough With Abusive Channels.

Because of long-standing criticism that FaceBook is not doing enough to protect viewers from bullying and harassment, the company announced today that their videos would be policed for insulting, demeaning, and stereotyping because of gender, race, religion, and sexual orientation. New algorithms and additional personnel will be on the lookout for any questionable videos or commentaries from private users, YouTube creative artists, so-called influencers, and even public officials and bureaucrats. YouTube is assuring educators, religious leaders, and government officials both here in the United States and abroad, that their new, tougher, standards, will be an effective bulwark against any hate-inducing videos on any of their channels. 

YouTube has promised that it will be hiring hundreds, if not thousands, of part-time raters to scan every channel for prohibited content. New prohibitions now include streaming cartoons from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s that contain offensive racial stereotypes. Vaping tutorials are not yet on the prohibited list, but executives at FaceBook have said they are seriously considering having them snuffed out. In theory, any video that negatively impacts the self-image and self-worth of a group will be pulled. Even with algorithms working full-time, this will be a tall order to fill. 

Whether these measures will be enough to tone down the toxic reputation FaceBook now has in some circles remains to be seen.