Youtube's Worst Sponsorship is Back (BetterHelp)

Summary

This video script takes a critical look at BetterHelp, an online therapy service, which has faced multiple scandals over the years. The narrator, who had previously promoted BetterHelp, now expresses concerns over the company's practices, including the selling of mental health data for profit. The video also features a master's degree holder in Psychology discussing the service's shortcomings compared to traditional therapy, and includes user testimonials that highlight poor experiences with BetterHelp's platform. The script urges creators to be mindful of the products they endorse and viewers to seek better alternatives for mental health support.

Takeaways

• 📣 The video discusses the prevalence of sponsorships in various media, including YouTube, and the narrator's acceptance of them for better content.
• 🚫 The narrator expresses concern over BetterHelp, a company with a controversial past, and its recent resurgence in sponsorships among YouTubers.
• 🔍 In 2018, BetterHelp faced a scandal for not guaranteeing the verification of their therapists' qualifications, leading to many creators dropping their sponsorships.
• 💡 The video suggests that BetterHelp may have improved since the 2018 scandal, but the narrator remains skeptical and investigates further.
• 📊 BetterHelp is criticized for its high subscription costs, ranging from $260 to $360 a month, compared to the narrator's personal experience with in-office therapy at a lower cost.
• 🚨 The company was fined $7.8 million by the FTC for sharing private mental health data of users with companies like Facebook and Snapchat, violating privacy regulations.
• 🤔 The video questions the value of BetterHelp's services, comparing them unfavorably to traditional in-office therapy, which the narrator's girlfriend, a master's degree holder in Psychology, provides.
• 🙄 The narrator's girlfriend points out that the features advertised by BetterHelp, such as 24/7 messaging, are not unique and can be found in traditional therapy.
• 💔 The video recounts multiple negative experiences from users of BetterHelp, including unprofessional conduct by therapists and poor service quality.
• 📝 The narrator encourages viewers to consider the numerous horror stories and questionable practices of BetterHelp before deciding to use their services.
• 📢 The video concludes with a call to action for creators to be aware of the companies they endorse and for viewers to seek better alternatives for mental health services.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is a critical review and discussion of the online therapy service 'BetterHelp,' its past controversies, and its current practices.

What is the speaker's stance on sponsorships in general?

The speaker is fine with creators promoting brand deals through sponsorships as long as it results in better content for the audience.

What was the first scandal involving BetterHelp mentioned in the script?

The first scandal mentioned involved BetterHelp not guaranteeing the verification of the skills, degrees, qualifications, certification, credentials, or background of any counselor they provided.

What action did BetterHelp take against the speaker after a previous video?

BetterHelp sent the speaker a cease and desist letter after the release of a previous video.

What is the speaker's concern about BetterHelp's current practices?

The speaker is concerned about BetterHelp's past scandals, including selling mental health data for marketing without anonymizing it, and whether they have truly improved their services.

What was the FTC fine against BetterHelp for?

BetterHelp was fined 7.8 Million by the FTC for sharing private mental health data of their users, including IP addresses and email addresses, with companies like Facebook and Snapchat.

What is the speaker's girlfriend's profession?

The speaker's girlfriend is a holder of a master's degree in Psychology and is currently providing therapy.

What are some of the issues raised by the speaker regarding BetterHelp's services?

Issues raised include the lack of privacy during sessions, unprofessional behavior by therapists, and the high cost of the service compared to in-office therapy.

What is the price range for BetterHelp's services mentioned in the script?

The price range for BetterHelp's services is $260 to $360 a month, depending on location, preferences, and therapist availability.

What is the speaker's recommendation for those considering BetterHelp?

The speaker recommends seeking better help elsewhere and advises against using BetterHelp due to its past controversies and current practices.

What is the speaker's final suggestion for viewers who enjoy the video?

The speaker suggests subscribing to the channel and watching other videos to become part of the 'cereal bowl' community.

Outlines

00:00

📣 BetterHelp Controversies and Sponsorship Concerns

The video script addresses the prevalence of sponsorships in content creation and the creator's acceptance of them for better content. However, it focuses on BetterHelp, a company that has been involved in multiple scandals over the years. The speaker expresses concern about BetterHelp's past issues, including false claims about licensed therapists and the selling of mental health data for profit. Despite these controversies, the company has managed to regain popularity through YouTube sponsorships, which the speaker finds problematic. The summary also mentions receiving a cease and desist letter from BetterHelp for previous content and emphasizes the importance of creators being aware of the companies they endorse.

05:03

🤔 Questioning BetterHelp's Services and Pricing

This paragraph delves into the services offered by BetterHelp, questioning the validity of their claims regarding 24/7 online therapy and the ease of switching providers. The speaker's girlfriend, who holds a master's degree in Psychology, provides an expert opinion on the matter, pointing out that BetterHelp's services are not as unique or beneficial as they are portrayed to be. The video script also discusses the cost of BetterHelp's services, which is significantly higher than traditional in-office therapy, and shares personal anecdotes and TikTok horror stories from users who have had negative experiences with the platform.

10:03

🚫 The Dark Side of BetterHelp: Misleading Practices and Unprofessionalism

The final paragraph of the script highlights the darker aspects of BetterHelp's practices, including unprofessional therapist behavior, mishandling of sensitive information, and the mistreatment of both clients and therapists. The speaker shares specific stories of poor service quality, such as therapists being late or unprofessional during sessions. The script also criticizes BetterHelp for their high prices and the overall negative impact they may have on the mental health industry. The speaker concludes by urging creators to be responsible for the products they endorse and encourages viewers to seek better alternatives for mental health support.

Keywords

💡Sponsorships

Sponsorships refer to the support that a company provides to a video creator or event in exchange for advertising space or mentions. In the video, the theme revolves around the prevalence of sponsorships in various aspects of media and the creator's stance on them, especially when they involve promoting a service like BetterHelp.

💡BetterHelp

BetterHelp is an online therapy service that offers access to licensed therapists. The video discusses the company's controversial history, including legal issues and scandals, and questions the ethics of promoting such a service through sponsorships, especially given its past.

💡Scandal

A scandal refers to a situation that has caused public outrage or damage to a company's reputation. The video mentions several scandals involving BetterHelp, including unverified therapist qualifications and the selling of user data, which are central to the creator's criticism.

💡Licensed Therapists

Licensed therapists are professionals who have met educational and experiential requirements and are authorized to practice therapy. The video points out that BetterHelp initially did not guarantee the verification of therapists' qualifications, which was a significant issue raised in past scandals.

💡Data Privacy

Data privacy concerns the appropriate handling of personal information. The video highlights BetterHelp's past issues with data privacy, particularly the selling of mental health data to advertisers without anonymizing it, which led to a fine from the FTC.

💡FTC

The FTC, or Federal Trade Commission, is a U.S. government agency that enforces consumer protection laws. In the context of the video, the FTC fined BetterHelp for sharing private mental health data, which underscores the severity of the company's privacy violations.

💡Mental Health Data

Mental health data encompasses personal information related to an individual's mental well-being and therapy sessions. The video criticizes BetterHelp for selling this sensitive data, which raises ethical concerns about the company's practices.

💡Therapy Sessions

Therapy sessions are meetings between a therapist and a client for the purpose of treatment. The video contrasts the traditional in-office therapy sessions with BetterHelp's online sessions, discussing the potential lack of privacy and professionalism in the latter.

💡Online Therapy

Online therapy is a form of psychological treatment conducted via digital platforms. The video scrutinizes BetterHelp's model of online therapy, questioning its effectiveness and professionalism compared to traditional in-person therapy.

💡Content Creator

A content creator is an individual who produces material for distribution on various platforms, often for entertainment or informational purposes. The video discusses the role of content creators in promoting services like BetterHelp and the responsibility that comes with such endorsements.

💡Ethical Concerns

Ethical concerns pertain to issues of right and wrong, especially in the context of business practices. The video raises several ethical concerns about BetterHelp's operations, including the handling of sensitive data and the quality of the therapy provided.

Highlights

Sponsorships are pervasive in various aspects of media, including closets, backyards, and even cereal boxes.

The speaker expresses comfort with creators promoting brands as long as it results in better content.

BetterHelp, a company with a controversial past, has re-emerged with sponsorships despite past scandals.

In 2018, BetterHelp was criticized for not guaranteeing the verification of therapists' qualifications.

The speaker humorously recounts receiving a cease and desist letter from BetterHelp for a previous video.

Despite past controversies, BetterHelp continues to be promoted by many popular YouTubers.

BetterHelp claims to offer affordable and private online therapy with licensed professionals.

The company has been fined $7.8 million by the FTC for sharing private mental health data with advertisers.

BetterHelp's practices have led to numerous scandals over the past six years.

The speaker's girlfriend, a master's degree holder in Psychology, critiques BetterHelp's services.

The video includes a comparison chart of BetterHelp's services versus traditional in-office therapy.

BetterHelp's subscription cost is highlighted as being significantly higher than traditional therapy.

The video shares personal experiences and TikTok horror stories about BetterHelp's service quality.

The speaker calls for creators to be informed about the company they endorse and for consumers to seek better alternatives.

The video concludes with a pun, suggesting BetterHelp might be more about social media growth than actual therapy.

A call to action for viewers to subscribe and join the 'cereal bowl' community on YouTube.

Transcripts

hey my bowl of cereal better help

yourself to a seat and some cereal

because today we're in for a wild

ride sponsorships they're everywhere

these days they're in your closet this

video is sponsored by raid Shadow

Legends is one of they're in your

backyard est.com

they're even in your

cereal and I'm completely fine with that

but I don't mind creators promoting a

brand deal if that means that they can

give me better content but there is one

service one company which has clawed its

way back from the depths it was cast

into 6 years ago a company that

seemingly caused most of my favorite

YouTubers to experience a memory

blackout and forgot all about their

first Scandal back in

2018 and that is better help better help

better help me not get a cease and

theist letter from their lawyers after I

released this video

like uh other YouTubers have this

company hired I'm assuming very

expensive lawyers I got a very strongly

worded ceas and desis letter from

betterhelp for the people who don't know

betterhelp well first of all thank you

because that means that this is the

first YouTube video you've watched in

the past 6 years and I appreciate that

because today almost every Creator is

sponsored by it even the ones I love Mr

B the try guys Jacks Nicky jubile and so

many more better help is a 24/7 online

therapy service they promise easily

accessible therapy with licensed

therapists for an arguably cheap price

they're like Fiverr but for mental

health and if that sounds like a

terrible ID to you don't worry that's

because it is the company has been in

scandal after scandal after Scandal for

the past 6 years some of you might

remember that back in 2018 countless of

creators were also being sponsored by

better help until their first candle

came to light remember when I mentioned

that they promised licensed therapists

well in 2018 the only license they had

was for being stinky Little Liars

affordable and private online therapy

with a professional they don't guarantee

the verification of the skills degrees

qualifications certification credentials

competence or background of any counsel

it's your responsibility to determine

whether they have any degree or

qualification or certification once this

game to light everyone started dropping

better help as a sponsorship of course I

was one of the disgusting YouTubers that

um did a better help promotion and this

was before I knew any of the um you know

the the controversy better help better

help yourself out of this P

disaster which they have because they're

back now better health worse than ever

in the past few months many of my

favorite creators have been pushing

better help again and as naive as I

could be I thought hm I mean better help

might have improved themselves their

first Scandal did happen 6 years ago and

I did read that they now do only use

licensed therapists uh that was until I

started reading the comment section on

the videos that they were sponsoring

quick reminder about better help's

controversial past and also how they're

selling your information to advertisers

please don't take better help's money

they do more harm than good I really

wish you wouldn't continue advertising

better help they sold Mental Health Data

for marketing without anonymizing it for

massive profits well screw you random

comments because Alan matz the

co-founder of betterhelp ured me they

would never do anything as crazy as

secretly sell private Mental Health Data

from their users he called it a

far-fetched conspiracy and a gross

violation of federal laws state laws

Hippa regulations and their own terms

and privacy policy which is why they

were fined 7.8 Million by the FTC last

year for doing exactly that yeah so the

FDC proved that they have been sharing

private Mental Health Data of their

users as well as their IP addresses

email address with companies like

Facebook and Snapchat this Mental Health

Data included an answers to very

personal questions such as sexual

orientation specific reasons for wanting

therapy possible eating disorders and so

much more of course when they were

asking those questions of their users

they ensured them that they wouldn't be

sharing this at all except with their

therapist of course and yeah oh boy

can't wait what ads Facebook is going to

show me now that they think I'm an

anxious and employed widowed bisexual

experiencing eating disorders and daddy

issues

an add for better help oh man and those

are just the lies they were caught on so

far and I mean they've been lying about

these ones for years but you know poor

startup multi-billion doll company can't

apologize for their action it's not

their fault that they try to abuse

Goodwill of their users for personal

corporate gain uh so let's give them a

chance and actually check out their

services and who better to check it out

than someone with a master's degree in

Psychology who is giving therapy right

now my

girlfriend hey so I already told you

about better help and how great of a

company they are yeah well since I'm

just a dumb content creator and you're a

literal holder of a master's degree in

Psychology I would like you to talk

about the services better heal provides

their users I mean look at all these

beautiful green better help check marks

while in-office poop sessions have all

these red crosses you know unlike

in-office therapy a better help has

messaging at any time chat sessions

video sessions phone sessions I mean

most in office therapists have phones

and laptops as well no they don't well

you might have a master's degree but I'm

pretty sure you haven't learned how to

message at any time I mean I don't think

the better help therapists are going to

answer 24/7 they have their personal

lives and we as therapists want the

client to be able to process what they

learned and not text us 24/7 because

then you're not going to grow as a

person I think you're wrong wait so you

dare say that better help spks are

actually not perks they're

[Music]

craps stupid I mean you guys don't have

easy to switch providers [ __ ] does that

even mean well either they're talking

about switching Telecom providers but

I'm pretty sure they're referring to

easily being able to switch therapists I

mean an office therapists can be changed

no we all know you're assigned an

in-office therapist at Birth and then

can't change it for the rest of your

life yeah Jokes Aside my in-office

therapist had basically all of these

Services I mean I could text her

whenever I could mail her when I had to

move abroad to Sweden we just did video

call therapy for 4 months so this

deceitful chart should actually look

look like this okay so can you guess how

much they dare ask for this it's

supposed to be cheaper than an office RP

right so12

$300 I'm sorry more specifically $260 to

$360 a month depending on location

preferences and therapist availability

do you know how much I paid for my 260

minute sessions for in-office therapy a

month $130

$130 like who the [ __ ] is this service

even for you know what we shouldn't be

judging the better heal platform without

having tried

it we're not paying for yeah we don't

have $300 laying around no there are

enough horror stories on Tik Tok where

they share what I hope no one will ever

have to experience in therapy so you

want to watch some Tik toks

no I did better help for about three

weeks and the straw that broke my back

was when the therapist was in office for

the first time the last time was in her

living room and I was like I'm just

going to believe no one else is there as

I log on to the video she's talking to

someone and then just stops talking it's

like hey how are you so let's get

started I'm like someone is in there she

gets up walks out an Open Door meaning

there was no privacy goes into the

lounge of like the office makes popcorn

while I'm talking and then comes back

with sits down and is eating po popcorn

with her mouthful just

chewing

what wait was I supposed to react to

something how many years do you think

it's going to be before we see a true

crime documentary about better help so I

tried better help twice um I actually

got a refund from them so my first

therapist um was 10 minutes late to our

10minute meeting our first initial

meeting and then she was like oh wow we

don't have a lot of time I contacted

them and I got a different therapist he

was also late and just completely missed

our first meeting we second said a

second one he missed that one and then

he just texted like oh man I'm so sorry

I was at my other job and I was just

like what the wait didn't they advertise

in-office therapy being bad because they

have waiting times with in-office

therapy you've got to spend time in

their waiting rooms with better help you

can save that time and spend it in our

waiting rooms this is no better help I

tried better help like a year ago and in

my first meeting they're like well what

are you struggling with and I tell them

I have an anxiety disorder a panic

disorder and I'm dealing with depression

to which he goes I don't think you

really have those disorders it's just

society's fault because right now

they're oppressing men you can't go out

and compliment a woman without becoming

a offender now I'm just Gob smacked by

this just like what but he continues

down this tangent and then he goes well

and you're also a straight white man so

of course you're the the reason that

everything in the world is bad when when

you look at history and think about it

we're really the saviors of the world

yeah I closed the laptop after that and

I was done don't do better help imagine

paying like $300 a month just to get

assigned to Andre date with a psychology

degree look I'm not saying that better

help never helped anyone I mean that

would be crazy there have been people

who said that their platform actually

improved their mental health enormous

but with the countless horror stories

and their Shady practices I don't know

if the Goods outweigh the bads there are

also endless articles of how poorly and

disrespectful their therapists are being

treated it's truly just a mess for both

therapists and clients I'll leave some

links in the description if you want to

read up on that again I don't think

YouTubers have to only advertise the

greatest of products however when a

company with such a shady and deceitful

past tries to sell something as

important as a mental health service

that in my opinion is both overpriced

and sucks yeah well that's should be

called out and I think creators should

be informed so if you know anyone that

still does better help sponsorships you

can just show them this video and if you

ever think of paying for better help go

instead seek better help yeah that was

my last pun I promise better help more

like better help me get 1,000 followers

on

instagram.com thee. seral Link in the

description I mean if you enjoyed this

video better help me out by subscribing

to my channel and watching some of my

other vide videos to become part of my

cereal bowl so we can become the largest

cereal bowl on YouTube and I can absorb

all of your fibers and nutrients