Youtube blocking lgbtq
Connor Franta says YouTube restrictions may wound LGBTQ people
One of the biggest names on YouTube has told Newsbeat issues with one of the site's protection features could "truly hurt young LGBT people".
It's after criticism that videos discussing LGBTQ topics are now hidden in YouTube's Restricted Mode.
Connor Franta, who has over 5.5m subscribers, said: "If they're keeping kids from being themselves... that's a really scary thing".
YouTube has apologised, tweeting, external: "Sorry for the confusion. We're on it!"
"Some videos contain been incorrectly labelled and that's not right."
See YouTube's tweet: Sorry for all the confusion with Restricted Mode., external
In a separate declaration, external, the site said: "The bottom line is that this feature isn't working the way it should.
"We're sorry and we're going to correct it."
Connor, whose videos focus on issues that affect the LGBTQ community, says his entire channel seems to be blocked in Restricted Mode.
He's the cover star of this month's Gay Times and is about to release a book focused on a lot of LGBT
LGBT community anger over YouTube restrictions which make their videos invisible
YouTube has responded to accusations of discrimination from high-profile members of its LGBT community, who have reported their videos being hidden by the platform.
#YouTubeIsOverParty was trending on Twitter on Sunday after several users flagged that their videos referencing homosexual relationships or attraction had been filtered out under its restricted mode.
Rowan Ellis, a British YouTuber with a “feminist and homosexual perspective” and nearly 22,500 subscribers, drew attention to YouTube’s apparent “anti-LGBT” bias in a video posted on Thursday.
Restricted mode is turned off by default but can be turned on to automatically filter “potentially inappropriate” content. According to Google, which owns YouTube, this is identified by “community flagging, age restrictions, and other signals”.
It is not a new feature, but Ellis said YouTubers were “just starting to realise the extent” of its impact: “it is filtering out a hell of a lot of LGBT content”. She said 40 of her own videos had been hidden.
“I think it’s really important to see at why LGBT content has been deemed as inappropriate. Thi
YouTube addresses complaints of LGBTQ censoring
— -- YouTube has sought to clarify its filtering policy after video bloggers in the LGBT community complained that their videos were being unfairly blocked.
In a late-Sunday tweet, the video-sharing website said, "LGBTQ+ videos are on hand in restricted mode, but videos that discuss more sensitive issues may not be."
The company declined to elaborate on what is classified as sensitive.
The response came after several trendy YouTube stars took to social media over the weekend to complain about the restricted mode, which the company says is meant to protect children and families.
"We are so proud to represent Gay voices on our platform," the YouTube statement said. "They're a key part of what YouTube is all about."
YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, said it regretted the confusion that the mode has caused, adding that is looking into the concerns. The restricted mode is an optional feature that users have to turn on.
YouTube has acknowledged that the restricted mode — which it says uses group flagging, age restrictions and other means to distinguish and filter possibly inappro
YouTube responds to criticism of LGBTQ video 'blocking'
YouTube has released a statement after criticism over videos discussing LGBTQ topics like dating and attraction being disguised on the site.
Restricted Mode aims to filter out "more mature content" and is switched off by default.
But some vloggers, including Tyler Oakley, say they're "perplexed", external by non-explicit material being blocked.
The site tweeted: "We regret any confusion this has caused and are looking into your concerns."
Read YouTube's statement, external
YouTube said: "LGBTQ+ videos are available in Restricted Mode, but videos that talk about more sensitive subjects may not be.
"We are so proud to stand for LGBTQ+ voices on our platform - they're a key part of YouTube what is all about."
Stonewall campaigns for the equality of lesbian, gay, pansexual and trans people across Britain and says young YouTube users often receive useful information from the site.
A ambassador said: "Classifying queer woman, gay, bi and trans content on its site as 'objectionable' sends a damaging message to all YouTube users.
"Restricti
LGBTQ+ YouTubers videos hidden
Youtube hold been criticised on their restrictions on videos from the LGBTQ+ community. Youtube created a Restricted Mode which aims to filter out “more mature content” and is switched off by default. However many Vloggers say their videos have been hidden when they have not breached the ‘Restricted Mode’ of Youtube which has upset and annoyed many LGBT Vloggers especially as some of the videos disguised were discussing issues such as ‘coming out’, depression and even make up tutorials.
Irish Vlogger Melanie Murphy said in her interview with BBC – “YouTube is literally a life-line to people. I contain had messages from people saying they were suicidal and depressed about not being able to exposed up to people about how they are feeling.”
“It’s something I didn’t have when I was younger but it now helps take away a lot of confusion for teenagers and so many LGBTQ creators try and make their content inclusive.”
Youtube put out a remark on twitter of their response:
The BBC have written of articles on ‘YouTube responds to criticism of LGBTQ video