Independent news on YouTube is a burgeoning phenomenon. A YouTube poll demonstrates this. Yet, the platform also promotes mainstream outlets, so independent news on YouTube will be buried under the mainstream content. Regardless, it’s an important way to access news online. This article explores some of the controversies regarding the quality of independent news on YouTube.
Independent news on youtube
Whether you prefer to consume news from traditional news organizations or independent sources, you can find a good mix of both in the YouTube ecosystem.
According to Pew Research Center, about a quarter of American adults get their news through YouTube. This video-sharing platform is home to everything from music videos to conspiracy theories to CNN.
However, what makes YouTube news different from traditional news organizations is its diversity. While traditional news organizations still have a strong presence on the platform, independent news creators are increasingly dominating the market.
While independent news on YouTube has been gaining popularity, most are based around a personality-driven host.
According to one study, 7/10 of the top 100 news channels on YouTube are centered around personalities. More than half of these channels are hosted by YouTubers, while the remaining one-third are hosted by public figures.
While CNN’s censorship tactics may have stifled some independent news, there is still a large presence of independent news on YouTube. One popular example is the David Pakman show, which offers well-rounded news stories and analysis.
Another popular website for news analysis is the Hill. The Hill offers in-depth analysis and coverage of stories coming out of Washington DC. Moreover, it was the largest independent political news site in the US as of 2020.
Independent news on YouTube can also be a great resource for anyone interested in learning more about the news. Pew Research Centre estimates that half of the people who watch news on YouTube also watch independent news channels.
Furthermore, 72 percent of them consider YouTube to be an important source of news. Many independent media on YouTube cover topics that mainstream news outlets ignore, which helps viewers understand current events better.
Influence of hashtags
One of the most common communication strategies on the web is the use of hashtags in news stories. They can be effective, or ineffective, depending on their intended audience.
For example, a hashtag about natural disasters may encourage the sharing of news stories and videos that are helpful to disaster relief. However, a hashtag about news related to politics may confuse viewers and make them suspicious of news that they are not interested in.
Using hashtags on YouTube is one way to make a video more relevant. For example, CreativeLife’s video about how to make a portable air conditioner at home uses six hashtags.
It appears at the top of the search results for “how-to” and “portable air conditioner.” YouTube uses hashtags to categorize videos and make them more relevant.
For example, a viewer may click on a hashtag at the top of the title and then click on related videos. Using branded hashtags will help to keep viewers from clicking away.
The study also looked at the hashtags used by advocacy groups. The researchers analyzed 1,000 tweets, including 226 that were retweeted by other users.
The study found that organizations that engage their audience by using relevant hashtags were more likely to spread their posts. In addition, they found that hashtags were more likely to be shared when they were related to a topic that educates the public.
For future research, the researchers would like to test the classification scheme in more domains, and interview social media advocates and marketers to see how they use hashtags.
The use of hashtags on YouTube is an important way to boost the visibility of your content. Using hashtags is similar to using hashtags on other social media platforms. This strategy is free and effective. In addition to driving audience attention, it can also help you establish yourself as an authoritative voice in your niche.
Political bias
A new Pew study has found that only 12 percent of news channels on YouTube explicitly identify their ideological slant. This means that viewers may be taking in biased content without even realizing it.
Here are some reasons why you should pay attention to the news you consume on YouTube. This study also found that YouTube users are younger, male, and less likely to be White.
A video platform’s algorithm makes recommendations based on the type of content a user is most likely to like.
This feature is used by YouTube to automatically match viewers with videos that they are most likely to enjoy. But few studies have examined how this algorithm plays a role in influencing political information.
The researchers also studied the history of comment moderation to determine whether or not YouTube users are more likely to see content that is sympathetic to one political party than another.
They then trained a hierarchical attention model to determine which content is the most polarizing. Their analysis revealed that more than 70% of commenters posted on right-leaning channels and only 6% of them were left-leaning.
The researchers also found that there was substantial cross-partisan communication in these channels. However, people were slightly more toxic when venturing into the territory of another political party and received more hostile replies.
As YouTube has gained popularity amongst the general public, it is increasingly important to ensure that content is not polarizing.
In addition to avoiding unjustified disfavoring of political opinions, YouTube needs to protect the right to freedom of expression. Many YouTube users have expressed concerns that the platform is acting more like a publisher than a source of news.
Impact of censorship
Censorship on YouTube has raised several concerns. For one, it discourages investigative journalism and poses threats to foreign correspondents who are reporting in China.
Another concern is that censorship on YouTube limits the ability of creators to monetise their content through advertising.
YouTube’s censorship policies demonstrate a lack of diversity in the content it allows. While it has a dedicated ad-friendly content policy, the platform does not apply these guidelines to all creators.
This leads to separate policies for different types of creators. YouTube’s outermost circle refers to community guidelines, user content, and its Partner Programme.
In India, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has launched a campaign to stifle critical speech. Government-aligned thugs have raided critical journalists’ homes.
As a result, media outlets have become overwhelmingly flattering to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government also selectively allots television licenses, effectively excluding unfriendly outlets.
Research on YouTube has also begun to focus on the different discourses that have emerged on the platform.
One example is the discourses relating to gender, ethnicity, and beauty. Several researchers have also explored the discursive behavior of content creators. Despite this, YouTube remains a venue for critical engagement.
There are several reasons for censorship of content on YouTube. Many governments are opposed to the free flow of news on the internet.
However, major international technology platforms such as Facebook and YouTube serve as buffers against censorship tendencies. Besides, these platforms are used to host a large amount of content, including news and political opinions.
China’s government’s policies also have a direct impact on the content of online content. The government’s block on the New York Times’ Chinese language web edition led to losses in advertising revenue and a twenty percent drop in the stock market overnight.
Meanwhile, Chinese government officials also pressure businesses not to advertise critical content on their sites.
As a result, Hong Kong’s Apple Daily lost advertising contracts in the lucrative real estate industry and with a London investment bank.
Impact of demonetization
One of the most effective ways to study demonetization is by viewing YouTube videos. These videos provide an effective strategic entry point for understanding the YouTube Partner Program, a program that allows creators to earn money by placing ads on their videos.
YouTube creators often do not have a clear understanding of how to monetize their videos, but their concerns provide a useful diagnostic of tensions on YouTube.
YouTube has made several changes to its algorithm to protect the reputation of brands. These changes aim to ensure that brand advertisers are not misled into thinking they are supporting content that violates their brand’s guidelines.
As a result, YouTube is updating its algorithm frequently. This ensures that brand advertisers have a high-level of protection and that they are not unfairly devalued.
YouTube has introduced a new system of demonetization in 2012. This change was intended to prevent the placement of ads on content that has questionable content or adult themes.
This would have negatively impacted advertisers. The process is complicated and confusing and is intended to prevent people from making money from inappropriate content.
Demonetization has been controversial. In some cases, creators have been demonetized because of their political beliefs. YouTube has also taken action against YouTubers who discuss controversial topics.
Far-right YouTubers have been gaining popularity and are claiming that the company targets them for their political views.
In addition, Steven Crowder claims that YouTube demonetized his videos because they contain homophobic language.
YouTube creators should consider moving their content elsewhere. There are other video platforms that will allow them to make money. One such option is Vimeo OTT. This platform enables creators to set up subscription channels, sell one-time purchases, and sell ads.
