PewDiePie speaks out on YouTube’s response to pedophilic content
The king of YouTube, Felix ‘PewDiePie’ Kjellberg, gave a shocking reaction to the controversial practices the video streaming site is taking to combat pedophelic content.
YouTube’s widespread initiative to prevent videos that may endanger minors has caught some smaller content creators in the crossfire by inadvertently terminating channels or demonetizing videos that have nothing to do with pedophilic content.
PewDiePie broke down the controversy and added his take saying that, although it’s unfortunate that some channels are being wrongfully targeted, he appreciates YouTube taking decisive action against a larger problem.
YouTube is now officially demonetizing videos if the COMMENTS SECTION contains inappropriate content. Ahaha this is the beginning of the end. How easy it is now to wreck a YouTuber's career, just leave insults on their videos and THEY get punished for it! https://t.co/BpexlNjz6K
— Dan Bull :pear: (@itsDanBull) February 22, 2019
PewDiePie left little room for interpretation when addressing YouTube’s questionable stance of demonetizing videos or limiting its ads because of the comments that are attached to the piece of content.
“They’re not setting a precedent by removing comments or demonetizing the videos,” PewDiePie said. “It’s not something that’s gonna affect everyone on the site. It’s clearly something they’ve done just to act swiftly at a time when it’s necessary. And to be honest, I appreciate YouTube’s done that. So before anyone freaks out and says YouTube is over: no it isn’t, calm down, they’re working on it. And I trust that they are, actually.”
(Timestamp at 7:29 for mobile viewers)
Although PewDiePie calls YouTube’s position on demonetizing videos with inappropriate comments “crazy,” he says that it makes sense for the site to take this approach in this sensitive time.
“I think for the first time in a long time, I’m on the side of YouTube. This is obviously a swift and short-term solution… YouTube obviously [needed] to act quickly,” PewDiePie said.
While some smaller channels on the platform have encountered multiple instances of wrongful actions taken against their channels, PewDiePie thinks it’s just a rough first stage in YouTube’s battle against the harmful content.