YouTube Ups Censorship

Like many online communities, YouTube allows users to police themselves for the most part. This strategy works great assuming the majority of viewers have an understanding of morals and artistic merit at the same time.
Traditionally, any video can be “flagged” by a YouTube user if they feel it violates the terms of service. An actual YouTube staff member then views the video and decides if it is to be limited to viewers of 18, removed or left alone. Recently however, YouTube has changed the flagging system into a more detailed and seemingly stricter flagging policy.
While the removal of copyrighted material, pornography or graphic violence is understandable, videos can now be removed for being “Suggestive, but Without Nudity” or classified as “Other Dangerous Acts” along with 15 additional categories.
“Suggestive but Without Nudity”? This seems rather vague and could be applied to probably 80% of YouTube content. One such victim of this flagging was the user “CiamMusic” for the UK band, CIAM. Their music video clip for “Egyptian Animal” featured two androgynous/animal cartoon figures running set to music. Keep in mind this was not live-action, but a moving graphic of two figures. The only thing remotely “suggestive” could be that they had nipples. Still, the last time I checked we all have nipples- even animals. Even cartoon animals apparently.


It seems, however, that these policies don’t apply to everyone, particularly YouTube Partners. YouTube Partners receive a small portion of YouTube’s profits for their content and in turn create substantial views for the online giant. One example of this nepotistic treatment is the NoGoodTV channel.
NoGoodTV seems to feature only suggestive material. Their videos routinely contain scantily clad women, interview playmates, suggestive dancing and cursing. In fact, NoGoodTV’s recent upload of Endeverafter’s “Baby Baby Baby” music video contained violence, sexually explicate actions and poll dancing strippers- all without so much as an over-18 warning.

The internet belongs to no single nation, no single social or political group and certainly no single set of morals. YouTube is one of the loudest voices on the internet and has responsibility to provide an unbiased view of censorship.
All YouTubers are equal, but some YouTubers are more equal than others.

Another Viral Layer

Like an onion, any good viral campaign has layers. Unlike an onion, they shouldn't make you cry. The Farah McDaring/ The Incredible Machine campaign has accomplished just that feat, but has even got the general public in on the act.
The latest video titled Farah Asks "What's in your Bag?" has received several great responses from vloggers including this little gem below.

The Buzz About The Bumblebeez

Sorry about the title of this post. I couldn't help myself.
But here's an interesting piece of viral video by the Bumblebeez. One wonders how many kids will be drawing on their arms and bellies in response. Kudos to the band for not indulging in any super model fantasies here. The raw feel is much more unique. It just shows that not all ideas have been done before ;)

Farah McDaring brings you "The Incredible Machine"

The object of the game is to solve real world object puzzles by the construction of a Rube Goldberg machine.
The Microsite is pretty neat too, it even has an interactive video for you to mess with.

Viral breakers = Wirebreakers

Here's an interesting campaign for Motorola's wireless headphones called Wirebreakers. The videos feature kids "krump" dancing to strangers while wearing their wrireless headphones. It has an interesting prank element and shows the product off in a hip way. Kudos to Motorola for meeting consumers where they live - and for knowing what krump the hell dancing is!


www.wirebreakers.com

Paying the Piper

YouTube announced Friday that it will distribute a cut of the revenue it generates from banner ads to its most popular contributors. The decision will not only drive YouTubers to generate better content, but will answer media companies that see the website as a source of pirated TV shows and video clips. Though YouTube has not set forth any criteria for videos to receive a pay-off, original content will certainly be a requirement.

YouTube isn't the first online video site to share profit with its users. Although they lack YouTube's traffic, Revver Inc., Metacafe Inc. and Break.com already pay contributors.