YouTube Claims LGBTQ+ Videos Are Now “Inappropriate,” Community Fights Back
YouTube decided that LGBTQ+ videos are inappropriate so the queer community and other decent humans began trending #YouTubeIsOverParty.
It was the talk of twitter this weekend when YouTube decided to block any LGBTQ+ content from folks who have their settings set to restricted mode. This setting is described by YouTube as:
"“You can use Restricted Mode to help screen out potentially objectionable content that you may prefer not to see or don’t want others in your family to see on YouTube. We use community flagging, age-restrictions, and other signals to identify and filter out potentially inappropriate content.”"
As anyone could imagine, this pissed off an entire community of people (and their allies) and that community began trending #YouTubeIsOverParty and #WeAreNotInappropriate in an attempt to be heard. And they were heard, indeed. Multiple YouTubers, TV personalities, and people of the queer community decided to speak out about it.
Hey @YouTube, can you please respond to this ASAP? Because it smells like straight-up bigotry to us. #WynonnaEarp #WayHaught #loveislove https://t.co/a7b5kSBdnK
— Emily Andras (@emtothea) March 19, 2017
until we hear back from @youtube, please actively check on all LGBTQ+ creators you're subscribed to & continue to support their content.
— tyler oakley // schedule pinned (@tyleroakley) March 19, 2017
Here’s a video that sums it all up pretty nicely. Nobody is quite sure what this restricted setting means or what YouTube is doing to try and fix this issue but we do know that it’s here, it’s relevant, and it’s effecting people who use YouTube to get exposure and to make a living.
🏳️🌈 New Video 🏳️🌈
— Rowan Ellis (is probably away) (@HeyRowanEllis) March 16, 2017
YouTube's anti-LGBT "restricted content mode" and why it's so dangerous.https://t.co/nS10uZTAUI pic.twitter.com/xJzGSHcSud
Channels that have absolutely no inappropriate content whatsoever like Queer Kid Stuff, a channel that specifically aims to help young queer kids, was even banned in restricted mode.
Hi @TeamYouTube! We are an LGBTQ+ channel *for children* and our videos on gender are blocked in restricted mode. This is not ok.
— Queer Kid Stuff (@queerkidstuff) March 17, 2017
What’s even more shocking is that reaction videos of specific shows that highlight a gay couple, like The CW’s Supergirl for example, are blocked in restricted mode. This means that people who simply watch an episode of Supergirl and share commentary about the scenes between Alex Danvers and Maggie Sawyers are thrown into the category of too inappropriate for some people to see.
Only 16 out of my 61 videos are available on restricted mode. Guess I'm too gay for this world. https://t.co/DWJtzc43xJ
— Elke (@elkehol) March 19, 2017
Here YouTube, have some more LGBT content.
— Elke (@elkehol) March 20, 2017
Supergirl reaction [2x15] "Exodus" https://t.co/H0ny8swHak
The queer community has definitely felt a hard hit by YouTube this weekend but they’ve never been a community to back down from a fight.
Nothing positive that happened to me in the past year would have happened without @YouTube. Our community needs it. #WeAreNotInappropriate
— rin (@matchbox_sized) March 20, 2017
I can't believe this doesn't go without saying, but it seems it does, so I'll add my voice to it: #WeAreNotInappropriate pic.twitter.com/1kQ2i0ijVZ
— Valerie Anne 🧛🏻♀️ (@PunkyStarshine) March 20, 2017
My existence and the way I love is not "inappropriate", @YouTube.
— Maryne. 🍊 (@MaryneeLahaye) March 19, 2017
Go to YouTube > settings > restricted mode filtering & select 'don't filter'
— Jenn McAllister (@jennmcallister) March 19, 2017
So, friendly reminder to make sure that your restricted mode isn’t on because #WeAreNotInappropriate.
Next: Gina Rodriguez Expresses Interest in Playing Marvel’s Queer America Chavez
If you feel strongly about this issue than I suggest you subscribe to as many queer channels as possible on YouTube and support them through this unnecessary setback.