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Six Things #YouTubeIsOverParty Taught Us

By Clare Fitzgerald

If you were on Twitter earlier this week you probably noticed #YouTubeIsOverParty was trending.

YouTube recently launched a new notifications system that alerts creators when monetisation has been removed from videos deemed unsuitable for advertisers (you can read the guidelines for advertiser-friendly content here).

According to a blog post from the Internet Creators Guild, demonetisation of videos has been taking place since 2012, primarily driven by an algorithm that looks at the metadata of videos. However, this was the first time many creators were being notified about the process, which led to the hashtag.

It was also the first time many were made aware of the current guidelines, which have been criticised for their vagueness – the ICG calls them a “net that is cast too broadly”.

To make matters worse, many of the videos being challenged are helpful or informative, covering topics varying from mental illness to scientific explanations, and even responses to major news events.

So what does this mean for YouTube? What’s fact and what’s assumption? There’s a lot to take in, so it’s a good thing you have us to help out! We’ve sifted through Twitter and collected the most important tweets, so you can be in the know about the rules and what they mean for the future of YouTube.

1. YouTube needs to improve its communication with creators

It’s no secret that YouTube doesn’t necessarily have the best track record when it comes to communicating with creators about changes to the site, and it appears that this time around, there was no heads-up.

As Dan Hardcastle found out, the current “advertiser-friendly content” guidelines have been in place since 2015, but it is only now that YouTube has begun notifying creators that their videos have been flagged, as US vlogger Philip DeFranco discussed in his videos YouTube Is Shutting Down My Channel and I’m Not Sure What To Do and YouTube Responded, But It Gets Even More Confusing.

This has brought up questions about how much revenue creators have unknowingly lost over the past year, and also a renewed plea from creators for YouTube to keep them in the loop.

2. The whole process appears to be automated

Initially, there were some creators who were felt as if YouTube was personally targeting channels deemed unsuitable. However, those concerns were put to rest after it was discovered the process was automated – which might also be why…

3. The majority of appeals are being won

The new notifications system does include the opportunity to appeal the decision, and many creators are choosing to do so. It appears the majority of those appeals are being won, including ones filed by Phil, fellow US vlogger Laci Green, Melanie Murphy, and Luke Cutforth.

4. We might see a change to the content YouTubers upload

The reasons for which YouTube can demonetise videos include swearing, sexually suggestive content, coverage of natural disasters, and more, so it’ll be interesting to see if (and how) creators will change the content they’re sharing with viewers. Will they cater their videos to the standards set by advertisers, or continue to create the content we know and love?

The issue of revenue comes into play with this, as falling foul of the guidelines could impact the amount of money creators make. Larger YouTubers are able to acquire income from outside sources, but what will this policy mean for YouTubers with smaller audiences, who aren’t able to bring in sponsorship deals or sell merchandise? Only time will tell.

5. Sites like Patreon may get a boost

While small, AdSense does makes up a portion of income for those who view YouTube as their job. With these guidelines, we may see more creators using crowdfunding websites like Patreon, which allows viewers to donate money to creators in return for rewards and perks. The likes of Dodie Clark and Lucy Moon, among many others, already use it.

6. To sum everything up…

It’s understandable why many YouTubers are concerned about these events but, as Hannah Witton points out, AdSense isn’t the be-all and end-all of YouTube. YouTube is a place for people to create the content they love, and as long as people do that, there will be those willing to watch and support in whatever way they can.

What are your thoughts on #YouTubeIsOverParty?

With so many opinions floating about, we’d love to hear yours! Do you feel the demonetisation policy is fair? Will it change the content we see on the site, or do you think creators will continue uploading videos similar to the those they do now? Send us a tweet and share your thoughts.

Want to keep reading? It’s a good thing we’ve got your back:

Follow @TenEightyUK on Twitter for updates or like TenEighty UK on Facebook.

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Published 4 September 2016.

About Clare Fitzgerald
Writer and journalist whose life revolves around Pokémon Go, F1 and YouTube. | @JournoClare
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