YouTube is profiting off videos pedaling fake remedies to stave off
Coronavirus, and those content creators are also taking a cut! But YouTube
had originally decided to prohibit all ads on Covid-19 related content --
they could roll back to that common-sense policy if enough people demand
it. That's where we come in:
[ [link removed] ] Add your name
John,
Most of us are reeling from Coronavirus -- but some are profiting from it.
One example is YouTube -- who recently walked back a restriction they
placed on advertisements on COVID-19 related videos. So now, not only is
YouTube profiting off videos pedaling fake remedies to stave off the
virus, but those content creators themselves are also taking a cut!
We are facing a serious crisis -- hundreds of thousands of people could
die in the coming weeks. As the largest video platform in the world,
YouTube should be pulling out all the stops to help protect people instead
of looking for ways to profit.
If YouTube rolls back to their original common-sense policy to prohibit
ads on Coronavirus related videos, there will be way less incentive for
people to publish these harmful videos in the first place. Plus, they
already made this decision before -- they could do it again if enough of
us demand it.
[ [link removed] ]Tell YouTube: stop allowing ads on Coronavirus-related content!
One example of these videos is a woman warning people to steer clear of
Chinese restaurants to avoid getting the virus. Another was advising to
take unsafe levels of vitamin C. Others involve more complicated remedies
like burning incense and eating specific types of leaves.
The only information people should be getting about Coronavirus should
come from official channels -- not from random people giving unscientific
advice which could put people’s lives at risk!
It’s true that we are in unprecedented times and tech giants are still
figuring out how to respond to this crisis. But here’s the thing: YouTube
specifically decided to profit off this type of content, and that’s just
wrong. They get an average of 5 billion views a day -- they can profit off
other types of videos during this serious crisis.
But YouTube will only listen if millions of us demand it. Click to add
your name, and then share this everywhere -- let’s stop the
Coronavirus bogus video profits!
[ [link removed] ]Tell YouTube: stop allowing ads on Coronavirus-related content!
Coronavirus has disrupted our lives beyond anything we could've imagined.
But that means more and more people are relying on social media, and we
are the best group to make sure those companies are doing what they can to
protect us.
[ [link removed] ] Add your name
Thanks for all that you do,
Rewan and the team at SumOfUs
More information:
[ [link removed] ]The pandemic is already reshaping tech’s misinformation crisis Tech
Crunch, April 3, 2020
[ [link removed] ]YouTube profits from videos promoting unproven Covid-19 treatments The
Guardian, April 3, 2020
SumOfUs is a worldwide movement of people like you, working together to hold corporations accountable for their actions and forge a new, sustainable path for our global economy.
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