YouTube: Difference between revisions

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YouTube has faced criticism and regulatory scrutiny on multiple fronts. Concerns have been raised about content moderation policies, the platform's role in the spread of misinformation, and its impact on user privacy, particularly in relation to data collection practices. Additionally, YouTube has been under fire for its algorithms, which some argue promote harmful or divisive content to maximize engagement.

== Consumer Impact Summary: ==

==Consumer Impact Summary==

* '''User Freedom''': Questionable; rampant bots and [[Elsagate]] suggest negligent moderation, yet at the same time, content moderation can be quite excessive for users as well.

*'''User Freedom''': Questionable; rampant bots and [[Elsagate]] suggest negligent moderation, yet at the same time, content moderation can be quite excessive for users as well.

* '''User Privacy''': Poor; Since August 2025, accessing mature content without identification is a gamble. User data is also sold to advertisers.

*'''User Privacy''': Poor; Since August 2025, accessing mature content without identification is a gamble. User data is also sold to advertisers.

* '''Business Model''': [[Advertising overload|Excessive advertising]], YouTube Premium, YouTube Premium Lite

*'''Business Model''': [[Advertising overload|Excessive advertising]], YouTube Premium, YouTube Premium Lite

* '''Market Competition''': Despite several platforms that follow its niche, such as Odysee, PeerTube, and DailyMotion, they provide no significant competition.

*'''Market Competition''': Despite several platforms that follow its niche, such as Odysee, PeerTube, and DailyMotion, they provide no significant competition.

==Incidents==

===Restricting users ~~without verification~~===

===Restricting users that don't share their personal information===

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===Crackdown against third-party front-ends===

YouTube began blocking third-party front-ends providing privacy friendly ways of access to the site.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Feb 2025 |title=Youtube changed something, again! |url=https://nadeko.net/announcements/invidious-02-20/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816014757/https://nadeko.net/announcements/invidious-02-20/ |archive-date=16 Aug 2025 |access-date=16 Aug 2025}}</ref>

===AI upscaling without consent===

YouTube is testing an experiment on Shorts content that enhances a video's detail without the creator's consent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reisner |first=Alex |date=August 22, 2025 | title=YouTube’s Sneaky AI ‘Experiment’ |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/08/youtube-shorts-ai-upscaling/683946/ |website=The Register |url-status=live |access-date=August 26, 2025}}</ref> The resulting output tends to look plastic.

This change has been observed as early as June 27, 2025<ref>{{Cite web |author=

Ulincsys |date=June 27, 2025 |title=YouTube Shorts are almost certainly being AI upscaled |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/1lllnse/youtube_shorts_are_almost_certainly_being_ai/ |access-date=August 26, 2025}}</ref> and affects creators who especially intend the video to be viewed in a certain way, such as the "VHS look".<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2025 |title=YouTube Shorts are becoming AI upscaled without consent from creators |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/1m5y7zu/youtube_shorts_are_becoming_ai_upscaled_without/ |url-status=live |website=Reddit |access-date=August 26, 2025}}</ref> Rhett Shull, in his video, opines such a change "will inevitably erode viewers trust in my content [...] or any of the other creators on this platform that we all watch and we all follow" due to implications that the creator may be using AI, and "also erodes my trust in the platform."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shull |first=Rhett |date=2025-08-14 |title=YouTube Is Using AI to Alter Content (and not telling us) |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=86nhP8tvbLY |url-status=live |website=YouTube |access-date=August 26, 2025}}</ref>

==References==

===Relevant Rossmann Videos:===

===Relevant Rossmann Videos===

[[Category:YouTube]]

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 YouTube has faced criticism and regulatory scrutiny on multiple fronts. Concerns have been raised about content moderation policies, the platform's role in the spread of misinformation, and its impact on user privacy, particularly in relation to data collection practices. Additionally, YouTube has been under fire for its algorithms, which some argue promote harmful or divisive content to maximize engagement.
-== Consumer Impact Summary: ==
+==Consumer Impact Summary==
-* '''User Freedom''': Questionable; rampant bots and [[Elsagate]] suggest negligent moderation, yet at the same time, content moderation can be quite excessive for users as well.
+*'''User Freedom''': Questionable; rampant bots and [[Elsagate]] suggest negligent moderation, yet at the same time, content moderation can be quite excessive for users as well.
-* '''User Privacy''': Poor; Since August 2025, accessing mature content without identification is a gamble. User data is also sold to advertisers.
+*'''User Privacy''': Poor; Since August 2025, accessing mature content without identification is a gamble. User data is also sold to advertisers.
-* '''Business Model''': [[Advertising overload|Excessive advertising]], YouTube Premium, YouTube Premium Lite
+*'''Business Model''': [[Advertising overload|Excessive advertising]], YouTube Premium, YouTube Premium Lite
-* '''Market Competition''': Despite several platforms that follow its niche, such as Odysee, PeerTube, and DailyMotion, they provide no significant competition.
+*'''Market Competition''': Despite several platforms that follow its niche, such as Odysee, PeerTube, and DailyMotion, they provide no significant competition.
 ==Incidents<!-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW4On_gWAvI -->==
-===Restricting users without verification===
+===Restricting users that don't share their personal information===
 {{Main|Youtubes Requirement for Government ID}}
@@ Line 94: / Line 94: @@
 ===Crackdown against third-party front-ends<!-- Could be expanded on -->===
 YouTube began blocking third-party front-ends providing privacy friendly ways of access to the site.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Feb 2025 |title=Youtube changed something, again! |url=https://nadeko.net/announcements/invidious-02-20/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816014757/https://nadeko.net/announcements/invidious-02-20/ |archive-date=16 Aug 2025 |access-date=16 Aug 2025}}</ref>
+===AI upscaling without consent===
+YouTube is testing an experiment on Shorts content that enhances a video's detail without the creator's consent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reisner |first=Alex |date=August 22, 2025 | title=YouTube’s Sneaky AI ‘Experiment’ |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/08/youtube-shorts-ai-upscaling/683946/ |website=The Register |url-status=live |access-date=August 26, 2025}}</ref> The resulting output tends to look plastic.
+This change has been observed as early as June 27, 2025<ref>{{Cite web |author=
+Ulincsys |date=June 27, 2025 |title=YouTube Shorts are almost certainly being AI upscaled |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/1lllnse/youtube_shorts_are_almost_certainly_being_ai/ |access-date=August 26, 2025}}</ref> and affects creators who especially intend the video to be viewed in a certain way, such as the "VHS look".<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2025 |title=YouTube Shorts are becoming AI upscaled without consent from creators |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/1m5y7zu/youtube_shorts_are_becoming_ai_upscaled_without/ |url-status=live |website=Reddit |access-date=August 26, 2025}}</ref> Rhett Shull, in his video, opines such a change "will inevitably erode viewers trust in my content [...] or any of the other creators on this platform that we all watch and we all follow" due to implications that the creator may be using AI, and "also erodes my trust in the platform."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shull |first=Rhett |date=2025-08-14 |title=YouTube Is Using AI to Alter Content (and not telling us) |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=86nhP8tvbLY |url-status=live |website=YouTube |access-date=August 26, 2025}}</ref>
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
-===Relevant Rossmann Videos:<!-- Videos to add for references, but haven't had sections made yet: (tons in the video directory to still add fyi!)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-QtwGfILTo Youtube bans 3D print channel after manually reviewing its videos as suitable for monetization 🤔  https://youtube.com/watch?v=7wFqblQY6Dk Youtube wants us to pay for views - this platform is circling the drain	  https://youtube.com/watch?v=ejVDwP1kswA @EEVblog tries Youtube's payola scam; stay away from this	   -->===
+===Relevant Rossmann Videos<!-- Videos to add for references, but haven't had sections made yet: (tons in the video directory to still add fyi!)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-QtwGfILTo Youtube bans 3D print channel after manually reviewing its videos as suitable for monetization 🤔  https://youtube.com/watch?v=7wFqblQY6Dk Youtube wants us to pay for views - this platform is circling the drain	  https://youtube.com/watch?v=ejVDwP1kswA @EEVblog tries Youtube's payola scam; stay away from this	   -->===
 <references group="Rossmann Video" />
 [[Category:YouTube]]