Elsagate: Difference between revisions

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The initial introduction of Elsagate content started at an unknown date, however its presence was mostly discovered by outlets such as ''The Guardian'' in 2016,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dredge |first=Stuart |date=29 Jun 2016 |title=YouTube's latest hit: neon superheroes, giant ducks and plenty of lycra |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/29/youtube-superheroes-children-webs-tiaras |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123024539/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/29/youtube-superheroes-children-webs-tiaras |archive-date=23 Nov 2017 |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> where the content was rather tame with no dialogue, only taking advantage of characters owned by large companies that would be popular among children, such as Spider-Man or Elsa. The following year, the content eventually became far more questionable, such as sexual behaviors and {{Wplink|scatological humor}}.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Popper |first=Ben |date=20 Feb 2017 |title=Adults dressed as superheroes is YouTube's new, strange, and massively popular genre |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/20/14489052/youtube-kids-videos-superheroes-disney-characters-fart-jokes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113060333/https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/20/14489052/youtube-kids-videos-superheroes-disney-characters-fart-jokes |archive-date=13 Nov 2017 |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Deal |first=Rachel |date=23 Feb 2017 |title=The Ballad Of Elsa And Spiderman |url=https://www.theawl.com/2017/02/the-ballad-of-elsa-and-spiderman/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041209/https://www.theawl.com/2017/02/the-ballad-of-elsa-and-spiderman/ |archive-date=1 Dec 2017 |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=The Awl}}</ref>

By early 2017, the amount of channels publishing this content skyrocketed, and reports on the content were matching similar amounts of proliferation. Publications such as the ''[[BBC]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Subedar |first=Anisa |last2=Yates |first2=Will |date=27 Mar 2017 |title=The disturbing YouTube videos that are tricking children |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-39381889 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626072502/https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-39381889 |archive-date=26 Jun 2019 |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=[[BBC]]}}</ref> ''CTV News'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 Mar 2017 |title=Fake toons: Kids falling prey to adult parodies of popular children's shows |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/fake-toons-kids-falling-prey-to-adult-parodies-of-popular-children-s-shows-1.3344358 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327141607/https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/fake-toons-kids-falling-prey-to-adult-parodies-of-popular-children-s-shows-1.3344358 |archive-date=27 Mar 2024 |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=CTV News}}</ref> and ''[[Yahoo!]] Lifestyle''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Natasha |date=9 Jul 2017 |title=Disturbing videos masked as kid's cartoons on YouTube |url=https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/disturbing-peppa-pig-and-pony-cartoons-on-youtue-36324432.html |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=[[Yahoo]] Lifestyle}}</ref> were among many covering this, and additionally the community '''[https://www.reddit.com/r/ElsaGate/ r/ElsaGate]''<nowiki/>' on Reddit formed, focusing on documenting the excessive publishing of this content.

By early 2017, the amount of channels publishing this content skyrocketed, and reports on the content were matching similar amounts of proliferation. Publications such as the ''[[BBC]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Subedar |first=Anisa |last2=Yates |first2=Will |date=27 Mar 2017 |title=The disturbing YouTube videos that are tricking children |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-39381889 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626072502/https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-39381889 |archive-date=26 Jun 2019 |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=[[BBC]]}}</ref> ''CTV News'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 Mar 2017 |title=Fake toons: Kids falling prey to adult parodies of popular children's shows |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/fake-toons-kids-falling-prey-to-adult-parodies-of-popular-children-s-shows-1.3344358 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327141607/https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/fake-toons-kids-falling-prey-to-adult-parodies-of-popular-children-s-shows-1.3344358 |archive-date=27 Mar 2024 |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=CTV News}}</ref> and ''[[Yahoo!]] Lifestyle''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Natasha |date=9 Jul 2017 |title=Disturbing videos masked as kid's cartoons on YouTube |url=https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/disturbing-peppa-pig-and-pony-cartoons-on-youtue-36324432.html |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=[[Yahoo]] Lifestyle |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260217143248/https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/disturbing-peppa-pig-and-pony-cartoons-on-youtue-36324432.html |archive-date=17 Feb 2026}}</ref> were among many covering this, and additionally the community '''[https://www.reddit.com/r/ElsaGate/ r/ElsaGate]''<nowiki/>' on Reddit formed, focusing on documenting the excessive publishing of this content.

===Google's response===

Initial response from [[Google]]'s moderation teams were limited, with only a few videos demonetized or taken down. When users on the platform were covering the incident, rather than the moderators taking down offending channels, YouTubers faced punishment for reporting instead.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yeung |first=Alysha |date=6 Oct 2024 |title=Aphmaugate: The Return of Elsagate |url=https://medium.com/@ayeu3251/aphmaugate-the-return-of-elsagate-91cf6d05ffad |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Medium}}</ref> Only after facing mass coverage from major news outlets on the mature depictions of child-favorite characters,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Whigham |first=Nick |date=29 Nov 2017 |title=Parents warned to look out for disturbing ‘Elsagate’ videos |url=https://nypost.com/2017/11/29/parents-warned-to-look-out-for-disturbing-elsagate-videos/ |access-date=6 Jun 2025 |work=New York Post}}</ref> potential investigations from the United State's Federal Bureau of Investigation,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Warzel |first=Charlie |date=22 Nov 2017 |title=YouTube Has A Massive Child Exploitation Problem |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/charliewarzel/youtube-is-addressing-its-massive-child-exploitation-problem |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122212607/https://www.buzzfeed.com/charliewarzel/youtube-is-addressing-its-massive-child-exploitation-problem |archive-date=22 Nov 2017 |access-date=6 Jun 2025 |work=BuzzFeed}}</ref> and threats from advertisers pulling funding, did [[YouTube]] put forth measures to effectively stop the spread of this content.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brandon |first=Russel |date=8 Dec 2017 |title=Inside Elsagate, the conspiracy-fueled war on creepy YouTube kids videos |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/8/16751206/elsagate-youtube-kids-creepy-conspiracy-theory |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413105303/https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/8/16751206/elsagate-youtube-kids-creepy-conspiracy-theory |archive-date=13 Apr 2018 |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>

Initial response from [[Google]]'s moderation teams were limited, with only a few videos demonetized or taken down. When users on the platform were covering the incident, rather than the moderators taking down offending channels, YouTubers faced punishment for reporting instead.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yeung |first=Alysha |date=6 Oct 2024 |title=Aphmaugate: The Return of Elsagate |url=https://medium.com/@ayeu3251/aphmaugate-the-return-of-elsagate-91cf6d05ffad |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251024203708/https://medium.com/@ayeu3251/aphmaugate-the-return-of-elsagate-91cf6d05ffad |archive-date=24 Oct 2025}}</ref> Only after facing mass coverage from major news outlets on the mature depictions of child-favorite characters,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Whigham |first=Nick |date=29 Nov 2017 |title=Parents warned to look out for disturbing ‘Elsagate’ videos |url=https://nypost.com/2017/11/29/parents-warned-to-look-out-for-disturbing-elsagate-videos/ |access-date=6 Jun 2025 |work=New York Post |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251018160304/https://nypost.com/2017/11/29/parents-warned-to-look-out-for-disturbing-elsagate-videos/ |archive-date=18 Oct 2025}}</ref> potential investigations from the United State's Federal Bureau of Investigation,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Warzel |first=Charlie |date=22 Nov 2017 |title=YouTube Has A Massive Child Exploitation Problem |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/charliewarzel/youtube-is-addressing-its-massive-child-exploitation-problem |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122212607/https://www.buzzfeed.com/charliewarzel/youtube-is-addressing-its-massive-child-exploitation-problem |archive-date=22 Nov 2017 |access-date=6 Jun 2025 |work=BuzzFeed}}</ref> and threats from advertisers pulling funding, did [[YouTube]] put forth measures to effectively stop the spread of this content.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brandon |first=Russel |date=8 Dec 2017 |title=Inside Elsagate, the conspiracy-fueled war on creepy YouTube kids videos |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/8/16751206/elsagate-youtube-kids-creepy-conspiracy-theory |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413105303/https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/8/16751206/elsagate-youtube-kids-creepy-conspiracy-theory |archive-date=13 Apr 2018 |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>

Features have included the following:

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==Version 2 - 'Aphmaugate' (2020 - Present)==

In the start of the 2020s, the content resurfaced in the feeds of users, especially as the height of "{{Wplink|COVID-19 pandemic|lockdown}}" encouraged an increase in screen time among all demographics. Compared to the previous iteration, the content would instead infringe on smaller indie intellectual properties and game franchises.<ref>{{Cite news |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |date=30 Mar 2021 |title=Blood, Poop, and Violence: YouTube Has a Creepy Minecraft Problem |url=https://www.wired.com/story/youtube-minecraft-among-us-disturbing-videos/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Wired}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Hajjaji |first=Danya |date=12 Apr 2022 |title=Violent YouTube Cartoons Exploit Children's Favorite Horror Characters |url=https://www.newsweek.com/violent-youtube-cartoons-exploit-children-favorite-horror-characters-1696854 |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Newsweek}}</ref> The content was considerably more violent and mature in nature, such as murder, abuse, and drugs.<ref name=":0" />

In the start of the 2020s, the content resurfaced in the feeds of users, especially as the height of "{{Wplink|COVID-19 pandemic|lockdown}}" encouraged an increase in screen time among all demographics. Compared to the previous iteration, the content would instead infringe on smaller indie intellectual properties and game franchises.<ref>{{Cite news |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |date=30 Mar 2021 |title=Blood, Poop, and Violence: YouTube Has a Creepy Minecraft Problem |url=https://www.wired.com/story/youtube-minecraft-among-us-disturbing-videos/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Wired |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223042548/https://www.wired.com/story/youtube-minecraft-among-us-disturbing-videos/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Hajjaji |first=Danya |date=12 Apr 2022 |title=Violent YouTube Cartoons Exploit Children's Favorite Horror Characters |url=https://www.newsweek.com/violent-youtube-cartoons-exploit-children-favorite-horror-characters-1696854 |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Newsweek |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251231162426/https://www.newsweek.com/violent-youtube-cartoons-exploit-children-favorite-horror-characters-1696854 |archive-date=31 Dec 2025}}</ref> The content was considerably more violent and mature in nature, such as murder, abuse, and drugs.<ref name=":0" />

The indie mascot horror scene has particularly faced the theft of their IP for the purposes of content farming for kids, even causing the creator of Sprunki<!-- Maybe link? https://youtube.fandom.com/wiki/NyankoBfLol

|

It is not exactly well-developed, but it is a concentrated source on the creator of the project -->, an indie version of {{Wplink|Incredibox|Incredibox}}, to quit their project partially due to the abuse of their IP inside content farms:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swanaenae |date=11 Mar 2025 |title=Elsagate Is Back, And It's Worse |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bblxWCB879s |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=NyankoBfLol |title=Post from NyankoBfLol |url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOEYetac6aKZ4jRlD7W5mEg/community?lb=Ugkx3COGIT5fhgh08jzUNuzX57fHFPsIbU7m |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=NyankoBfLol |date=2 Dec 2024 |title=about sprunki... (and a few other situations related) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUoGbPWakB4 |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><blockquote>I have a secret that I have been keeping for a while. But after getting hacked, I noticed it's a bit too late. But lemme say this anyway

It is not exactly well-developed, but it is a concentrated source on the creator of the project -->, an indie version of {{Wplink|Incredibox|Incredibox}}, to quit their project partially due to the abuse of their IP inside content farms:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swanaenae |date=11 Mar 2025 |title=Elsagate Is Back, And It's Worse |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bblxWCB879s |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=bblxWCB879s |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=NyankoBfLol |title=Post from NyankoBfLol |url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOEYetac6aKZ4jRlD7W5mEg/community?lb=Ugkx3COGIT5fhgh08jzUNuzX57fHFPsIbU7m |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=NyankoBfLol |date=2 Dec 2024 |title=about sprunki... (and a few other situations related) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUoGbPWakB4 |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=rUoGbPWakB4 |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><blockquote>I have a secret that I have been keeping for a while. But after getting hacked, I noticed it's a bit too late. But lemme say this anyway

Sprunki 2 has already been cancelled this whole time.

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But for now, spread the words

- sprunkiisdead</blockquote>Thanks to the creation and excessive enforcement of [[COPPA]] (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) on [[YouTube]], this period had also shown content created explicitly for mature audiences being automatically marked for kids against the wishes of the creator,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=5 Jul 2022 |title=YouTube flags horror video as “for kids,” won’t let creator change rating |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/07/youtube-flags-horror-video-as-for-kids-wont-let-creator-change-rating/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/davidverner |date=5 Nov 2021 |title=Is this actually a thing, forcing videos to YouTube Kids because it's about a cartoon series? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/qnq6m0/is_this_actually_a_thing_forcing_videos_to/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> which harms the monetization of their content<ref>{{Cite news |last=nuckles87 |date=13 Jul 2023 |title=YouTube goes after Balena Productions' Sonic Animations, Marking Them "Made For Kids" |url=https://www.sonicstadium.org/news/fandom/youtube-goes-after-balena-productions-sonic-animations-marking-them-made-for-kids-r1145/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Sonic Stadium}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Muska327 |date=9 May 2022 |title=Looks like YouTube has it out for Sonic content now. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/um99om/looks_like_youtube_has_it_out_for_sonic_content/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> and contributes to the harm of children.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parker |first=Tom |date=9 Jan 2020 |title=YouTube COPPA changes result in videos with violence, gore, and strong language being labeled “made for kids” |url=https://reclaimthenet.org/youtube-coppa-changes-violent-videos-made-for-kids |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Reclaim The Net}}</ref>

- sprunkiisdead</blockquote>Thanks to the creation and excessive enforcement of [[COPPA]] (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) on [[YouTube]], this period had also shown content created explicitly for mature audiences being automatically marked for kids against the wishes of the creator,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=5 Jul 2022 |title=YouTube flags horror video as “for kids,” won’t let creator change rating |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/07/youtube-flags-horror-video-as-for-kids-wont-let-creator-change-rating/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Ars Technica |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250903022012/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/07/youtube-flags-horror-video-as-for-kids-wont-let-creator-change-rating/ |archive-date=3 Sep 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/davidverner |date=5 Nov 2021 |title=Is this actually a thing, forcing videos to YouTube Kids because it's about a cartoon series? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/qnq6m0/is_this_actually_a_thing_forcing_videos_to/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20211106015719/https://old.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/qnq6m0/is_this_actually_a_thing_forcing_videos_to/ |archive-date=6 Nov 2021}}</ref> which harms the monetization of their content<ref>{{Cite news |last=nuckles87 |date=13 Jul 2023 |title=YouTube goes after Balena Productions' Sonic Animations, Marking Them "Made For Kids" |url=https://www.sonicstadium.org/news/fandom/youtube-goes-after-balena-productions-sonic-animations-marking-them-made-for-kids-r1145/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Sonic Stadium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708172014/https://www.sonicstadium.org/news/fandom/youtube-goes-after-balena-productions-sonic-animations-marking-them-made-for-kids-r1145/ |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Muska327 |date=9 May 2022 |title=Looks like YouTube has it out for Sonic content now. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/um99om/looks_like_youtube_has_it_out_for_sonic_content/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220510033602/https://old.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/um99om/looks_like_youtube_has_it_out_for_sonic_content/ |archive-date=10 May 2022}}</ref> and contributes to the harm of children.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parker |first=Tom |date=9 Jan 2020 |title=YouTube COPPA changes result in videos with violence, gore, and strong language being labeled “made for kids” |url=https://reclaimthenet.org/youtube-coppa-changes-violent-videos-made-for-kids |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Reclaim The Net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251018114909/https://reclaimthenet.org/youtube-coppa-changes-violent-videos-made-for-kids |archive-date=18 Oct 2025}}</ref>

==Version 3 - 'AIgate' (2023 - Present)==

An offshoot of the previous version emerged with the growth of [[generative AI]], and compared to the speed of human output, AI generated videos proliferated excessively on video platforms. Initially this content was a series of poorly stitched-together static images, however as access to AI-powered video generators increased and the costs to use these additionally became cheaper, consumers on several video platforms were faced with a flood of AI generated videos<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tang |first=Jiaru |date=19 Sep 2024 |title=Behind the AI slop flooding TikTok and Facebook |url=https://www.thetimes.com.au/world/34647-behind-the-ai-slop-flooding-tiktok-and-facebook |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=The Times AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Salvador |first=Francheska |date=10 Mar 2025 |title=Is your feed full of AI ‘slop’? Trending low-quality AI videos in a nutshell |url=https://torontoobserver.ca/2025/03/10/is-your-feed-full-of-ai-slop-trending-low-quality-ai-videos-in-a-nutshell/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=The Toronto Observer}}</ref> that exhibited disturbing imagery and elements suitable only for mature audiences, while maintaining the façade of looking like it is content for kids.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Holliday |first=Laura |date=2 May 2025 |title=Dozens of YouTube Channels Are Showing AI-Generated Cartoon Gore and Fetish Content |url=https://www.wired.com/story/dozens-of-youtube-channels-are-showing-ai-generated-cartoon-gore-and-fetish-content/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=WIRED}}</ref>

An offshoot of the previous version emerged with the growth of [[generative AI]], and compared to the speed of human output, AI generated videos proliferated excessively on video platforms. Initially this content was a series of poorly stitched-together static images, however as access to AI-powered video generators increased and the costs to use these additionally became cheaper, consumers on several video platforms were faced with a flood of AI generated videos<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tang |first=Jiaru |date=19 Sep 2024 |title=Behind the AI slop flooding TikTok and Facebook |url=https://www.thetimes.com.au/world/34647-behind-the-ai-slop-flooding-tiktok-and-facebook |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=The Times AU |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251018131611/https://www.thetimes.com.au/world/34647-behind-the-ai-slop-flooding-tiktok-and-facebook |archive-date=18 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Salvador |first=Francheska |date=10 Mar 2025 |title=Is your feed full of AI ‘slop’? Trending low-quality AI videos in a nutshell |url=https://torontoobserver.ca/2025/03/10/is-your-feed-full-of-ai-slop-trending-low-quality-ai-videos-in-a-nutshell/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=The Toronto Observer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250812191022/https://torontoobserver.ca/2025/03/10/is-your-feed-full-of-ai-slop-trending-low-quality-ai-videos-in-a-nutshell/ |archive-date=12 Aug 2025}}</ref> that exhibited disturbing imagery and elements suitable only for mature audiences, while maintaining the façade of looking like it is content for kids.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Holliday |first=Laura |date=2 May 2025 |title=Dozens of YouTube Channels Are Showing AI-Generated Cartoon Gore and Fetish Content |url=https://www.wired.com/story/dozens-of-youtube-channels-are-showing-ai-generated-cartoon-gore-and-fetish-content/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=WIRED |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251230033401/https://www.wired.com/story/dozens-of-youtube-channels-are-showing-ai-generated-cartoon-gore-and-fetish-content/ |archive-date=30 Dec 2025}}</ref>

A highlight of these channels are centered around the tag "Cute Cat", which has notably been discussed by creators<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Raymundo 2112 |date=28 Feb 2025 |title=Elsagate 3.0 Is Worse Than we Thought. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjOybKOm2Tc&t=1s |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Upper Echelon |date=6 May 2025 |title=ElsaGate is BACK - (In 2025) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pekrc2nIJaA |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Timcast IRL |date=23 Apr 2025 |title=AI Brainrot SLOP Is TAKING OVER The Internet, ElsaGate 3 IS HERE |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxV3my4QzYU |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and outlets<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanctionite |date=24 May 2025 |title=Elsagate 2.0: AI-Generated Content Targets Kids on YouTube |url=https://upperechelon.gg/elsagate-2-ai-generated-content-targets-kids-youtube/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=Upper Echelon}}</ref> alike. The AI generated cat videos show disturbing imagery involving humanoid cats, often depicted as a child, either committing or facing disturbing acts like abuse, physical trauma, torture, and more.<ref>{{Cite news |title=AI-Generated Cartoon Gore: A Disturbing Trend on YouTube Like Elsagate |url=https://digialps.com/ai-generated-cartoon-gore-a-disturbing-trend-on-youtube-like-elsagate/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=DigiAlps}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=BitterSnake |date=13 Jan 2025 |title=Cute Cat AI {{!}} The Next Elsa Gate {{!}} Content Warning: Gore, disturbing imagery |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnlvfMx9Q4I |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

A highlight of these channels are centered around the tag "Cute Cat", which has notably been discussed by creators<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Raymundo 2112 |date=28 Feb 2025 |title=Elsagate 3.0 Is Worse Than we Thought. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjOybKOm2Tc&t=1s |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=RjOybKOm2Tc |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Upper Echelon |date=6 May 2025 |title=ElsaGate is BACK - (In 2025) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pekrc2nIJaA |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=pekrc2nIJaA |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Timcast IRL |date=23 Apr 2025 |title=AI Brainrot SLOP Is TAKING OVER The Internet, ElsaGate 3 IS HERE |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxV3my4QzYU |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=vxV3my4QzYU |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> and outlets<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanctionite |date=24 May 2025 |title=Elsagate 2.0: AI-Generated Content Targets Kids on YouTube |url=https://upperechelon.gg/elsagate-2-ai-generated-content-targets-kids-youtube/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=Upper Echelon |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251207132056/https://upperechelon.gg/elsagate-2-ai-generated-content-targets-kids-youtube/ |archive-date=7 Dec 2025}}</ref> alike. The AI generated cat videos show disturbing imagery involving humanoid cats, often depicted as a child, either committing or facing disturbing acts like abuse, physical trauma, torture, and more.<ref>{{Cite news |title=AI-Generated Cartoon Gore: A Disturbing Trend on YouTube Like Elsagate |url=https://digialps.com/ai-generated-cartoon-gore-a-disturbing-trend-on-youtube-like-elsagate/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=DigiAlps |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251023212510/https://digialps.com/ai-generated-cartoon-gore-a-disturbing-trend-on-youtube-like-elsagate/ |archive-date=23 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=BitterSnake |date=13 Jan 2025 |title=Cute Cat AI {{!}} The Next Elsa Gate {{!}} Content Warning: Gore, disturbing imagery |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnlvfMx9Q4I |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}} ([https://preservetube.com/watch?v=jnlvfMx9Q4I Archived])</ref>

Some of these channels will label that the content is not intended for children, however, they neglect to leave these content warnings outside of the comment section.<ref name=":5" /> Due to the mixture of paranoia from previous Elsagate-type incidents and a difficulty to control the kids app,<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=That_Commission |date=1 Jun 2021 |title=Parental controls are a terrible way of monitoring what you kid does on the internet. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/unpopularopinion/comments/npv5vs/parental_controls_are_a_terrible_way_of/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=C. |first=Michael |date=27 Sep 2020 |title=I want to allow ONLY specific YouTube Channel(s) on my child's browser or app |url=https://support.google.com/youtubekids/thread/73612494?hl=en#redirected=true |access-date=23 Jun 2020 |website=[[Google]] Support}}</ref> parents have lost trust in [[YouTube Kids]],<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Ok-Counter-7077 |date=2 Jul 2022 |title=Anyone else hate YouTube kids? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/vq12fz/anyone_else_hate_youtube_kids/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> meaning they are at risk of accidentally showing this traumatizing content to their own children.

Some of these channels will label that the content is not intended for children, however, they neglect to leave these content warnings outside of the comment section.<ref name=":5" /> Due to the mixture of paranoia from previous Elsagate-type incidents and a difficulty to control the kids app,<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=That_Commission |date=1 Jun 2021 |title=Parental controls are a terrible way of monitoring what you kid does on the internet. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/unpopularopinion/comments/npv5vs/parental_controls_are_a_terrible_way_of/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210601142503/https://old.reddit.com/r/unpopularopinion/comments/npv5vs/parental_controls_are_a_terrible_way_of/ |archive-date=1 Jun 2021}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=C. |first=Michael |date=27 Sep 2020 |title=I want to allow ONLY specific YouTube Channel(s) on my child's browser or app |url=https://support.google.com/youtubekids/thread/73612494?hl=en#redirected=true |access-date=23 Jun 2020 |website=[[Google]] Support |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251019133218/https://support.google.com/youtubekids/thread/73612494?hl=en |archive-date=19 Oct 2025}}</ref> parents have lost trust in [[YouTube Kids]],<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Ok-Counter-7077 |date=2 Jul 2022 |title=Anyone else hate YouTube kids? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/vq12fz/anyone_else_hate_youtube_kids/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223042722/https://old.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/vq12fz/anyone_else_hate_youtube_kids/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> meaning they are at risk of accidentally showing this traumatizing content to their own children.

Despite the excess in disturbing content, both YouTube and its parent company Google have not managed to stop the proliferation of this content on its platform.

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 The initial introduction of Elsagate content started at an unknown date, however its presence was mostly discovered by outlets such as ''The Guardian'' in 2016,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dredge |first=Stuart |date=29 Jun 2016 |title=YouTube's latest hit: neon superheroes, giant ducks and plenty of lycra |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/29/youtube-superheroes-children-webs-tiaras |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123024539/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/29/youtube-superheroes-children-webs-tiaras |archive-date=23 Nov 2017 |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> where the content was rather tame with no dialogue, only taking advantage of characters owned by large companies that would be popular among children, such as Spider-Man or Elsa. The following year, the content eventually became far more questionable, such as sexual behaviors and {{Wplink|scatological humor}}.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Popper |first=Ben |date=20 Feb 2017 |title=Adults dressed as superheroes is YouTube's new, strange, and massively popular genre |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/20/14489052/youtube-kids-videos-superheroes-disney-characters-fart-jokes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113060333/https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/20/14489052/youtube-kids-videos-superheroes-disney-characters-fart-jokes |archive-date=13 Nov 2017 |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Deal |first=Rachel |date=23 Feb 2017 |title=The Ballad Of Elsa And Spiderman |url=https://www.theawl.com/2017/02/the-ballad-of-elsa-and-spiderman/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041209/https://www.theawl.com/2017/02/the-ballad-of-elsa-and-spiderman/ |archive-date=1 Dec 2017 |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=The Awl}}</ref>
-By early 2017, the amount of channels publishing this content skyrocketed, and reports on the content were matching similar amounts of proliferation. Publications such as the ''[[BBC]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Subedar |first=Anisa |last2=Yates |first2=Will |date=27 Mar 2017 |title=The disturbing YouTube videos that are tricking children |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-39381889 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626072502/https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-39381889 |archive-date=26 Jun 2019 |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=[[BBC]]}}</ref> ''CTV News'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 Mar 2017 |title=Fake toons: Kids falling prey to adult parodies of popular children's shows |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/fake-toons-kids-falling-prey-to-adult-parodies-of-popular-children-s-shows-1.3344358 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327141607/https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/fake-toons-kids-falling-prey-to-adult-parodies-of-popular-children-s-shows-1.3344358 |archive-date=27 Mar 2024 |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=CTV News}}</ref> and ''[[Yahoo!]] Lifestyle''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Natasha |date=9 Jul 2017 |title=Disturbing videos masked as kid's cartoons on YouTube |url=https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/disturbing-peppa-pig-and-pony-cartoons-on-youtue-36324432.html |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=[[Yahoo]] Lifestyle}}</ref> were among many covering this, and additionally the community '''[https://www.reddit.com/r/ElsaGate/ r/ElsaGate]''<nowiki/>' on Reddit formed, focusing on documenting the excessive publishing of this content.
+By early 2017, the amount of channels publishing this content skyrocketed, and reports on the content were matching similar amounts of proliferation. Publications such as the ''[[BBC]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Subedar |first=Anisa |last2=Yates |first2=Will |date=27 Mar 2017 |title=The disturbing YouTube videos that are tricking children |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-39381889 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626072502/https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-39381889 |archive-date=26 Jun 2019 |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=[[BBC]]}}</ref> ''CTV News'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 Mar 2017 |title=Fake toons: Kids falling prey to adult parodies of popular children's shows |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/fake-toons-kids-falling-prey-to-adult-parodies-of-popular-children-s-shows-1.3344358 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327141607/https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/fake-toons-kids-falling-prey-to-adult-parodies-of-popular-children-s-shows-1.3344358 |archive-date=27 Mar 2024 |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=CTV News}}</ref> and ''[[Yahoo!]] Lifestyle''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Natasha |date=9 Jul 2017 |title=Disturbing videos masked as kid's cartoons on YouTube |url=https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/disturbing-peppa-pig-and-pony-cartoons-on-youtue-36324432.html |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=[[Yahoo]] Lifestyle |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260217143248/https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/disturbing-peppa-pig-and-pony-cartoons-on-youtue-36324432.html |archive-date=17 Feb 2026}}</ref> were among many covering this, and additionally the community '''[https://www.reddit.com/r/ElsaGate/ r/ElsaGate]''<nowiki/>' on Reddit formed, focusing on documenting the excessive publishing of this content.
 ===Google's response===
-Initial response from [[Google]]'s moderation teams were limited, with only a few videos demonetized or taken down. When users on the platform were covering the incident, rather than the moderators taking down offending channels, YouTubers faced punishment for reporting instead.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yeung |first=Alysha |date=6 Oct 2024 |title=Aphmaugate: The Return of Elsagate |url=https://medium.com/@ayeu3251/aphmaugate-the-return-of-elsagate-91cf6d05ffad |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Medium}}</ref> Only after facing mass coverage from major news outlets on the mature depictions of child-favorite characters,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Whigham |first=Nick |date=29 Nov 2017 |title=Parents warned to look out for disturbing ‘Elsagate’ videos |url=https://nypost.com/2017/11/29/parents-warned-to-look-out-for-disturbing-elsagate-videos/ |access-date=6 Jun 2025 |work=New York Post}}</ref> potential investigations from the United State's Federal Bureau of Investigation,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Warzel |first=Charlie |date=22 Nov 2017 |title=YouTube Has A Massive Child Exploitation Problem |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/charliewarzel/youtube-is-addressing-its-massive-child-exploitation-problem |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122212607/https://www.buzzfeed.com/charliewarzel/youtube-is-addressing-its-massive-child-exploitation-problem |archive-date=22 Nov 2017 |access-date=6 Jun 2025 |work=BuzzFeed}}</ref> and threats from advertisers pulling funding, did [[YouTube]] put forth measures to effectively stop the spread of this content.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brandon |first=Russel |date=8 Dec 2017 |title=Inside Elsagate, the conspiracy-fueled war on creepy YouTube kids videos |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/8/16751206/elsagate-youtube-kids-creepy-conspiracy-theory |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413105303/https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/8/16751206/elsagate-youtube-kids-creepy-conspiracy-theory |archive-date=13 Apr 2018 |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>
+Initial response from [[Google]]'s moderation teams were limited, with only a few videos demonetized or taken down. When users on the platform were covering the incident, rather than the moderators taking down offending channels, YouTubers faced punishment for reporting instead.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yeung |first=Alysha |date=6 Oct 2024 |title=Aphmaugate: The Return of Elsagate |url=https://medium.com/@ayeu3251/aphmaugate-the-return-of-elsagate-91cf6d05ffad |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251024203708/https://medium.com/@ayeu3251/aphmaugate-the-return-of-elsagate-91cf6d05ffad |archive-date=24 Oct 2025}}</ref> Only after facing mass coverage from major news outlets on the mature depictions of child-favorite characters,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Whigham |first=Nick |date=29 Nov 2017 |title=Parents warned to look out for disturbing ‘Elsagate’ videos |url=https://nypost.com/2017/11/29/parents-warned-to-look-out-for-disturbing-elsagate-videos/ |access-date=6 Jun 2025 |work=New York Post |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251018160304/https://nypost.com/2017/11/29/parents-warned-to-look-out-for-disturbing-elsagate-videos/ |archive-date=18 Oct 2025}}</ref> potential investigations from the United State's Federal Bureau of Investigation,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Warzel |first=Charlie |date=22 Nov 2017 |title=YouTube Has A Massive Child Exploitation Problem |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/charliewarzel/youtube-is-addressing-its-massive-child-exploitation-problem |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122212607/https://www.buzzfeed.com/charliewarzel/youtube-is-addressing-its-massive-child-exploitation-problem |archive-date=22 Nov 2017 |access-date=6 Jun 2025 |work=BuzzFeed}}</ref> and threats from advertisers pulling funding, did [[YouTube]] put forth measures to effectively stop the spread of this content.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brandon |first=Russel |date=8 Dec 2017 |title=Inside Elsagate, the conspiracy-fueled war on creepy YouTube kids videos |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/8/16751206/elsagate-youtube-kids-creepy-conspiracy-theory |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413105303/https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/8/16751206/elsagate-youtube-kids-creepy-conspiracy-theory |archive-date=13 Apr 2018 |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>
 Features have included the following:<!--Need to flesh this list out more-->
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 ==Version 2 - 'Aphmaugate' (2020 - Present)<!--Maybe pile: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDCdCxevFe9CajBTj-6uVUotOLbwBx0at < a short list of videos that document falsely marked videos  |  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4g0voH_15YoTrQ7QSV9h-7aYbTv6uvBC < a 2nd one  |  https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18xhcmi/the_famous_nyan_cat_video_has_been_mark_made_for/--><!-- To be added: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1904.08910 < Related: https://github.com/akariueda/DLAForElsagate |  https://www.wired.com/story/your-kid-may-be-watching-ai-generated-videos-on-youtube/ <<< Premium article -->==
-In the start of the 2020s, the content resurfaced in the feeds of users, especially as the height of "{{Wplink|COVID-19 pandemic|lockdown}}" encouraged an increase in screen time among all demographics. Compared to the previous iteration, the content would instead infringe on smaller indie intellectual properties and game franchises.<ref>{{Cite news |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |date=30 Mar 2021 |title=Blood, Poop, and Violence: YouTube Has a Creepy Minecraft Problem |url=https://www.wired.com/story/youtube-minecraft-among-us-disturbing-videos/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Wired}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Hajjaji |first=Danya |date=12 Apr 2022 |title=Violent YouTube Cartoons Exploit Children's Favorite Horror Characters |url=https://www.newsweek.com/violent-youtube-cartoons-exploit-children-favorite-horror-characters-1696854 |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Newsweek}}</ref> The content was considerably more violent and mature in nature, such as murder, abuse, and drugs.<ref name=":0" />
+In the start of the 2020s, the content resurfaced in the feeds of users, especially as the height of "{{Wplink|COVID-19 pandemic|lockdown}}" encouraged an increase in screen time among all demographics. Compared to the previous iteration, the content would instead infringe on smaller indie intellectual properties and game franchises.<ref>{{Cite news |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |date=30 Mar 2021 |title=Blood, Poop, and Violence: YouTube Has a Creepy Minecraft Problem |url=https://www.wired.com/story/youtube-minecraft-among-us-disturbing-videos/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Wired |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223042548/https://www.wired.com/story/youtube-minecraft-among-us-disturbing-videos/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Hajjaji |first=Danya |date=12 Apr 2022 |title=Violent YouTube Cartoons Exploit Children's Favorite Horror Characters |url=https://www.newsweek.com/violent-youtube-cartoons-exploit-children-favorite-horror-characters-1696854 |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Newsweek |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251231162426/https://www.newsweek.com/violent-youtube-cartoons-exploit-children-favorite-horror-characters-1696854 |archive-date=31 Dec 2025}}</ref> The content was considerably more violent and mature in nature, such as murder, abuse, and drugs.<ref name=":0" />
 The indie mascot horror scene has particularly faced the theft of their IP for the purposes of content farming for kids, even causing the creator of Sprunki<!-- Maybe link? https://youtube.fandom.com/wiki/NyankoBfLol
   |
-It is not exactly well-developed, but it is a concentrated source on the creator of the project -->, an indie version of {{Wplink|Incredibox|Incredibox}}, to quit their project partially due to the abuse of their IP inside content farms:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swanaenae |date=11 Mar 2025 |title=Elsagate Is Back, And It's Worse |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bblxWCB879s |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=NyankoBfLol |title=Post from NyankoBfLol |url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOEYetac6aKZ4jRlD7W5mEg/community?lb=Ugkx3COGIT5fhgh08jzUNuzX57fHFPsIbU7m |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=NyankoBfLol |date=2 Dec 2024 |title=about sprunki... (and a few other situations related) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUoGbPWakB4 |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><!-- I am not 100% sure about me including this, looking for discussion of the relevance/scope of this specific incident on the wiki. - JamesTDG --><blockquote>I have a secret that I have been keeping for a while. But after getting hacked, I noticed it's a bit too late. But lemme say this anyway
+It is not exactly well-developed, but it is a concentrated source on the creator of the project -->, an indie version of {{Wplink|Incredibox|Incredibox}}, to quit their project partially due to the abuse of their IP inside content farms:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swanaenae |date=11 Mar 2025 |title=Elsagate Is Back, And It's Worse |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bblxWCB879s |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=bblxWCB879s |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=NyankoBfLol |title=Post from NyankoBfLol |url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOEYetac6aKZ4jRlD7W5mEg/community?lb=Ugkx3COGIT5fhgh08jzUNuzX57fHFPsIbU7m |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=NyankoBfLol |date=2 Dec 2024 |title=about sprunki... (and a few other situations related) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUoGbPWakB4 |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=rUoGbPWakB4 |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><!-- I am not 100% sure about me including this, looking for discussion of the relevance/scope of this specific incident on the wiki. - JamesTDG --><blockquote>I have a secret that I have been keeping for a while. But after getting hacked, I noticed it's a bit too late. But lemme say this anyway
 Sprunki 2 has already been cancelled this whole time.
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 But for now, spread the words
-- sprunkiisdead</blockquote>Thanks to the creation and excessive enforcement of [[COPPA]] (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) on [[YouTube]], this period had also shown content created explicitly for mature audiences being automatically marked for kids against the wishes of the creator,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=5 Jul 2022 |title=YouTube flags horror video as “for kids,” won’t let creator change rating |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/07/youtube-flags-horror-video-as-for-kids-wont-let-creator-change-rating/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/davidverner |date=5 Nov 2021 |title=Is this actually a thing, forcing videos to YouTube Kids because it's about a cartoon series? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/qnq6m0/is_this_actually_a_thing_forcing_videos_to/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> which harms the monetization of their content<ref>{{Cite news |last=nuckles87 |date=13 Jul 2023 |title=YouTube goes after Balena Productions' Sonic Animations, Marking Them "Made For Kids" |url=https://www.sonicstadium.org/news/fandom/youtube-goes-after-balena-productions-sonic-animations-marking-them-made-for-kids-r1145/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Sonic Stadium}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Muska327 |date=9 May 2022 |title=Looks like YouTube has it out for Sonic content now. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/um99om/looks_like_youtube_has_it_out_for_sonic_content/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> and contributes to the harm of children.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parker |first=Tom |date=9 Jan 2020 |title=YouTube COPPA changes result in videos with violence, gore, and strong language being labeled “made for kids” |url=https://reclaimthenet.org/youtube-coppa-changes-violent-videos-made-for-kids |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Reclaim The Net}}</ref>
+- sprunkiisdead</blockquote>Thanks to the creation and excessive enforcement of [[COPPA]] (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) on [[YouTube]], this period had also shown content created explicitly for mature audiences being automatically marked for kids against the wishes of the creator,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=5 Jul 2022 |title=YouTube flags horror video as “for kids,” won’t let creator change rating |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/07/youtube-flags-horror-video-as-for-kids-wont-let-creator-change-rating/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Ars Technica |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250903022012/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/07/youtube-flags-horror-video-as-for-kids-wont-let-creator-change-rating/ |archive-date=3 Sep 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/davidverner |date=5 Nov 2021 |title=Is this actually a thing, forcing videos to YouTube Kids because it's about a cartoon series? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/qnq6m0/is_this_actually_a_thing_forcing_videos_to/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20211106015719/https://old.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/qnq6m0/is_this_actually_a_thing_forcing_videos_to/ |archive-date=6 Nov 2021}}</ref> which harms the monetization of their content<ref>{{Cite news |last=nuckles87 |date=13 Jul 2023 |title=YouTube goes after Balena Productions' Sonic Animations, Marking Them "Made For Kids" |url=https://www.sonicstadium.org/news/fandom/youtube-goes-after-balena-productions-sonic-animations-marking-them-made-for-kids-r1145/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Sonic Stadium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708172014/https://www.sonicstadium.org/news/fandom/youtube-goes-after-balena-productions-sonic-animations-marking-them-made-for-kids-r1145/ |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Muska327 |date=9 May 2022 |title=Looks like YouTube has it out for Sonic content now. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/um99om/looks_like_youtube_has_it_out_for_sonic_content/ |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220510033602/https://old.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/um99om/looks_like_youtube_has_it_out_for_sonic_content/ |archive-date=10 May 2022}}</ref> and contributes to the harm of children.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parker |first=Tom |date=9 Jan 2020 |title=YouTube COPPA changes result in videos with violence, gore, and strong language being labeled “made for kids” |url=https://reclaimthenet.org/youtube-coppa-changes-violent-videos-made-for-kids |access-date=8 Jun 2025 |work=Reclaim The Net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251018114909/https://reclaimthenet.org/youtube-coppa-changes-violent-videos-made-for-kids |archive-date=18 Oct 2025}}</ref>
 ==Version 3 - 'AIgate' (2023 - Present)==
-An offshoot of the previous version emerged with the growth of [[generative AI]], and compared to the speed of human output, AI generated videos proliferated excessively on video platforms. Initially this content was a series of poorly stitched-together static images,<!-- I was spotting them before however any that I can point out now from my history have been delisted. Fine getting this sentence revised - JamesTDG --> however as access to AI-powered video generators increased and the costs to use these additionally became cheaper, consumers on several video platforms were faced with a flood of AI generated videos<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tang |first=Jiaru |date=19 Sep 2024 |title=Behind the AI slop flooding TikTok and Facebook |url=https://www.thetimes.com.au/world/34647-behind-the-ai-slop-flooding-tiktok-and-facebook |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=The Times AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Salvador |first=Francheska |date=10 Mar 2025 |title=Is your feed full of AI ‘slop’? Trending low-quality AI videos in a nutshell |url=https://torontoobserver.ca/2025/03/10/is-your-feed-full-of-ai-slop-trending-low-quality-ai-videos-in-a-nutshell/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=The Toronto Observer}}</ref> that exhibited disturbing imagery and elements suitable only for mature audiences, while maintaining the façade of looking like it is content for kids.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Holliday |first=Laura |date=2 May 2025 |title=Dozens of YouTube Channels Are Showing AI-Generated Cartoon Gore and Fetish Content |url=https://www.wired.com/story/dozens-of-youtube-channels-are-showing-ai-generated-cartoon-gore-and-fetish-content/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=WIRED}}</ref>
+An offshoot of the previous version emerged with the growth of [[generative AI]], and compared to the speed of human output, AI generated videos proliferated excessively on video platforms. Initially this content was a series of poorly stitched-together static images,<!-- I was spotting them before however any that I can point out now from my history have been delisted. Fine getting this sentence revised - JamesTDG --> however as access to AI-powered video generators increased and the costs to use these additionally became cheaper, consumers on several video platforms were faced with a flood of AI generated videos<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tang |first=Jiaru |date=19 Sep 2024 |title=Behind the AI slop flooding TikTok and Facebook |url=https://www.thetimes.com.au/world/34647-behind-the-ai-slop-flooding-tiktok-and-facebook |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=The Times AU |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251018131611/https://www.thetimes.com.au/world/34647-behind-the-ai-slop-flooding-tiktok-and-facebook |archive-date=18 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Salvador |first=Francheska |date=10 Mar 2025 |title=Is your feed full of AI ‘slop’? Trending low-quality AI videos in a nutshell |url=https://torontoobserver.ca/2025/03/10/is-your-feed-full-of-ai-slop-trending-low-quality-ai-videos-in-a-nutshell/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=The Toronto Observer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250812191022/https://torontoobserver.ca/2025/03/10/is-your-feed-full-of-ai-slop-trending-low-quality-ai-videos-in-a-nutshell/ |archive-date=12 Aug 2025}}</ref> that exhibited disturbing imagery and elements suitable only for mature audiences, while maintaining the façade of looking like it is content for kids.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Holliday |first=Laura |date=2 May 2025 |title=Dozens of YouTube Channels Are Showing AI-Generated Cartoon Gore and Fetish Content |url=https://www.wired.com/story/dozens-of-youtube-channels-are-showing-ai-generated-cartoon-gore-and-fetish-content/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=WIRED |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251230033401/https://www.wired.com/story/dozens-of-youtube-channels-are-showing-ai-generated-cartoon-gore-and-fetish-content/ |archive-date=30 Dec 2025}}</ref>
-A highlight of these channels are centered around the tag "Cute Cat", which has notably been discussed by creators<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Raymundo 2112 |date=28 Feb 2025 |title=Elsagate 3.0 Is Worse Than we Thought. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjOybKOm2Tc&t=1s |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Upper Echelon |date=6 May 2025 |title=ElsaGate is BACK - (In 2025) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pekrc2nIJaA |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Timcast IRL |date=23 Apr 2025 |title=AI Brainrot SLOP Is TAKING OVER The Internet, ElsaGate 3 IS HERE |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxV3my4QzYU |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and outlets<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanctionite |date=24 May 2025 |title=Elsagate 2.0: AI-Generated Content Targets Kids on YouTube |url=https://upperechelon.gg/elsagate-2-ai-generated-content-targets-kids-youtube/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=Upper Echelon}}</ref> alike. The AI generated cat videos show disturbing imagery involving humanoid cats, often depicted as a child, either committing or facing disturbing acts like abuse, physical trauma, torture, and more.<ref>{{Cite news |title=AI-Generated Cartoon Gore: A Disturbing Trend on YouTube Like Elsagate |url=https://digialps.com/ai-generated-cartoon-gore-a-disturbing-trend-on-youtube-like-elsagate/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=DigiAlps}}</ref><!-- Tempted to delete this ref; it links zero sources, mentions no writer, and has no creation date. Will likely delete if I find something better. --><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=BitterSnake |date=13 Jan 2025 |title=Cute Cat AI {{!}} The Next Elsa Gate {{!}} Content Warning: Gore, disturbing imagery |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnlvfMx9Q4I |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
+A highlight of these channels are centered around the tag "Cute Cat", which has notably been discussed by creators<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Raymundo 2112 |date=28 Feb 2025 |title=Elsagate 3.0 Is Worse Than we Thought. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjOybKOm2Tc&t=1s |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=RjOybKOm2Tc |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Upper Echelon |date=6 May 2025 |title=ElsaGate is BACK - (In 2025) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pekrc2nIJaA |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=pekrc2nIJaA |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Timcast IRL |date=23 Apr 2025 |title=AI Brainrot SLOP Is TAKING OVER The Internet, ElsaGate 3 IS HERE |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxV3my4QzYU |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=vxV3my4QzYU |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> and outlets<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanctionite |date=24 May 2025 |title=Elsagate 2.0: AI-Generated Content Targets Kids on YouTube |url=https://upperechelon.gg/elsagate-2-ai-generated-content-targets-kids-youtube/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=Upper Echelon |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251207132056/https://upperechelon.gg/elsagate-2-ai-generated-content-targets-kids-youtube/ |archive-date=7 Dec 2025}}</ref> alike. The AI generated cat videos show disturbing imagery involving humanoid cats, often depicted as a child, either committing or facing disturbing acts like abuse, physical trauma, torture, and more.<ref>{{Cite news |title=AI-Generated Cartoon Gore: A Disturbing Trend on YouTube Like Elsagate |url=https://digialps.com/ai-generated-cartoon-gore-a-disturbing-trend-on-youtube-like-elsagate/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |work=DigiAlps |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251023212510/https://digialps.com/ai-generated-cartoon-gore-a-disturbing-trend-on-youtube-like-elsagate/ |archive-date=23 Oct 2025}}</ref><!-- Tempted to delete this ref; it links zero sources, mentions no writer, and has no creation date. Will likely delete if I find something better. --><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=BitterSnake |date=13 Jan 2025 |title=Cute Cat AI {{!}} The Next Elsa Gate {{!}} Content Warning: Gore, disturbing imagery |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnlvfMx9Q4I |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}} ([https://preservetube.com/watch?v=jnlvfMx9Q4I Archived])</ref>
-Some of these channels will label that the content is not intended for children, however, they neglect to leave these content warnings outside of the comment section.<ref name=":5" /><!-- 5:15 in the video. Be careful watching, I actually dry heaved during this video. --> Due to the mixture of paranoia from previous Elsagate-type incidents and a difficulty to control the kids app,<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=That_Commission |date=1 Jun 2021 |title=Parental controls are a terrible way of monitoring what you kid does on the internet. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/unpopularopinion/comments/npv5vs/parental_controls_are_a_terrible_way_of/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=C. |first=Michael |date=27 Sep 2020 |title=I want to allow ONLY specific YouTube Channel(s) on my child's browser or app |url=https://support.google.com/youtubekids/thread/73612494?hl=en#redirected=true |access-date=23 Jun 2020 |website=[[Google]] Support}}</ref> parents have lost trust in [[YouTube Kids]],<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Ok-Counter-7077 |date=2 Jul 2022 |title=Anyone else hate YouTube kids? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/vq12fz/anyone_else_hate_youtube_kids/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> meaning they are at risk of accidentally showing this traumatizing content to their own children.
+Some of these channels will label that the content is not intended for children, however, they neglect to leave these content warnings outside of the comment section.<ref name=":5" /><!-- 5:15 in the video. Be careful watching, I actually dry heaved during this video. --> Due to the mixture of paranoia from previous Elsagate-type incidents and a difficulty to control the kids app,<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=That_Commission |date=1 Jun 2021 |title=Parental controls are a terrible way of monitoring what you kid does on the internet. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/unpopularopinion/comments/npv5vs/parental_controls_are_a_terrible_way_of/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210601142503/https://old.reddit.com/r/unpopularopinion/comments/npv5vs/parental_controls_are_a_terrible_way_of/ |archive-date=1 Jun 2021}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=C. |first=Michael |date=27 Sep 2020 |title=I want to allow ONLY specific YouTube Channel(s) on my child's browser or app |url=https://support.google.com/youtubekids/thread/73612494?hl=en#redirected=true |access-date=23 Jun 2020 |website=[[Google]] Support |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251019133218/https://support.google.com/youtubekids/thread/73612494?hl=en |archive-date=19 Oct 2025}}</ref> parents have lost trust in [[YouTube Kids]],<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Ok-Counter-7077 |date=2 Jul 2022 |title=Anyone else hate YouTube kids? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/vq12fz/anyone_else_hate_youtube_kids/ |access-date=23 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223042722/https://old.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/vq12fz/anyone_else_hate_youtube_kids/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> meaning they are at risk of accidentally showing this traumatizing content to their own children.
 Despite the excess in disturbing content, both YouTube and its parent company Google have not managed to stop the proliferation of this content on its platform.