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Video-sharing website YouTube has come under fire after several popular users claimed the platform is censoring their LGBTQA+ videos.
YouTubers such as Tyler Oakley, who boasts 8 million subscribers, and Tegan and Sara, who have 230 000 subscribers, were at the forefront of the outcry against YouTube.
They claim their videos containing LGBTQA+ topics where put in YouTube's restricted category — which is essentially what YouTube uses to filter out potentially objectionable content that users may not want to see.
This means that any user who has their YouTube on restricted mode would not have been able to see some content from these YouTubers. This has also been the case for many videos with LGBTQA+ in their titles. The acronym LGBTQA+ is used to refer to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and asexual issues. The '+' denotes to other sexual orientations like pansexual.
still not fixed. one of my recent videos "8 Black LGBTQ+ Trailblazers Who Inspire Me" is blocked because of this. i'm perplexed, @YouTube. https://t.co/MrGBmPum1a — Tyler Oakley (@tyleroakley) March 19, 2017
The issue gained traction on Twitter, spawning the trending hashtag #YouTubeIsOverParty.
"Animal abuse"
YouTube: lol
"Graphic violence" YouTube: lol "People showing their love" YouTube: pic.twitter.com/3wkjqIVRSW — ? ????? ? (@sxtuca) March 19, 2017
the existence of gay people is NOT 18+ and shouldn't be censored. the enemy is not homosexuality the enemy is hate #YouTubeIsOverParty — riley (@lameassri) March 20, 2017
sooo why aren't these videos restricted ??? #YoutubeIsOverParty pic.twitter.com/rYJ3U9sEZ6 — juliana (@julianaarayy) March 20, 2017
These amazing people are being restricted for being openly gay. Rt if you belive this is a big load of bs #YoutubeIsOverParty pic.twitter.com/f12eCs63gA — ally (@quoteupyourday) March 20, 2017
Read more: Ellen: LGBT rights requires everyone
Twitter also got behind South African-born singer-songwriter and actor Troye Sivan, whose videos are among those placed under the restricted banner.
this just in, @YouTube 's restricted mode seems to think @troyesivan 's entire channel is inappropriate??? #YouTubeIsOverParty pic.twitter.com/EOPUyop0Om — ??????. (@teahops) March 20, 2017
A message to our community ... pic.twitter.com/oHNiiI7CVs — YouTube Creators (@YTCreators) March 20, 2017
YouTube’s parent company Google told BuzzFeed News that LGBT-related videos are still available in restricted mode, but “some videos that cover subjects like health, politics, and sexuality may not appear for users and institutions that choose to use this feature.”
The apology has done little to quell users. UK YouTube ambassador Rowan Ellis posted this video about the situation:
Read more: Thousands sign petition to ban this YouTube vlogger for being ‘too thin’
