Elsagate: Difference between revisions
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''' | '''{{Wplink|Elsagate}}''' refers to a type of incident where malicious content creators are left unrestrained to publish illicit content that is targeted towards minors. Residing among video platforms such as [[YouTube]] and [[TikTok]], millions of minors have been left affected by the negligence of the companies that maintain them. | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
Elsagate content is associated with mature content that is covered by a thin façade of what audiences would initially expect to be child-friendly content. The content itself takes advantage of a multitude of mediums, such as flash-style animation, stop-motion or claymation, live action footage, or most recently, [[Generative AI|AI generation]]. Most videos uploaded would take advantage of methods to take advantage of the algorithm with junk | Elsagate content is associated with mature content that is covered by a thin façade of what audiences would initially expect to be child-friendly content. The content itself takes advantage of a multitude of mediums, such as flash-style animation, stop-motion or claymation, live action footage, or most recently, [[Generative AI|AI generation]]. Most videos uploaded would take advantage of methods to take advantage of the algorithm with junk {{Wplink|Index term|keywords}} and {{Wplink|Buzzword|buzzwords}} in the titles like "education" or "nursery rhymes", and the attention of children or unaware parents with bright thumbnails and recognizable characters. | ||
==Version 1 - (2016-2017)<!-- Sources TBA: https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2017/11/28/youtubes-elsagate-illuminates-the-unintended-horrors-of-the-digital-age/ | https://theweek.com/89701/does-elsagate-prove-youtube-is-too-big-to-control | https://www.theverge.com/culture/2017/11/21/16685874/kids-youtube-video-elsagate-creepiness-psychology -->== | ==Version 1 - (2016-2017)<!-- Sources TBA: https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2017/11/28/youtubes-elsagate-illuminates-the-unintended-horrors-of-the-digital-age/ | https://theweek.com/89701/does-elsagate-prove-youtube-is-too-big-to-control | https://www.theverge.com/culture/2017/11/21/16685874/kids-youtube-video-elsagate-creepiness-psychology -->== | ||
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=Jun | 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=Mar | 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. | ||
===Google's response=== | ===Google's response=== | ||
Initial response from [[Google]]'s moderation teams were limited, only a few videos | 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> | ||
Features have included the following:<!--Need to flesh this list out more--> | Features have included the following:<!--Need to flesh this list out more--> | ||
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==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 -->== | ==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 | 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" /> | ||
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 | 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 | 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 | ||
Sprunki 2 has already been cancelled this whole time. | Sprunki 2 has already been cancelled this whole time. | ||
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But for now, spread the words | But for now, spread the words | ||
#sprunkiisdead</blockquote>This period had also shown content created | #sprunkiisdead</blockquote>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> | ||
==Version 3 - 'AIgate' (2023 - Present)== | ==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=Sep | 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> | ||
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=Feb | 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> | ||
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 | 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. | ||
Despite the excess in disturbing content, both YouTube and its parent company Google have neglected to stop the proliferation of this content on its platform. | Despite the excess in disturbing content, both YouTube and its parent company Google have neglected to stop the proliferation of this content on its platform. | ||
==Consumer response<!--Needs a LOT more elaboration here, will handle later.-->== | ==Consumer response<!--Needs a LOT more elaboration here, will handle later.-->== | ||
The initial response from the public of the first version of the incident was | The initial response from the public of the first version of the incident was strongly negative, with users agreeing to refuse to use YouTube Kids due to a lack of adequate parental controls for the content that would be shown to the user.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":7" /><!-- Regarding ref 29: I would like to point out that the solution that got marked as the recommended answer actually does not tell users how to control the specific channels a kid can watch. Also, it is restricted to anything labeled for YT Kids only. --> Version 3 has especially brought significant backlash due to the explicit nature of the videos being published and being shown to children using the platform.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | |||
[[Category:YouTube]] | |||