YouTube: Racism and Favoritism

Summary

In a passionate video, YouTuber CoryxKenshin accuses YouTube of unfair treatment, favoritism, and potentially racism. He shares his experience of having his video for 'The Mortuary Assistant' unfairly age-restricted while others, including non-black creators, faced no such penalties. Despite appealing, YouTube only reversed its decision after he pointed out a similar video by Markiplier, raising concerns of bias and inconsistent enforcement. CoryxKenshin expresses frustration with what he sees as targeted scrutiny, suggesting that as a rising black creator, he faces unique challenges. The video ends with a call for fairness, transparency, and accountability on the platform.

Takeaways

• 😀 Corey Kenshin addresses serious allegations towards YouTube, claiming favoritism, possible racism, or a mix of both as the reasons behind the unfair treatment of his content.
• 🤔 Corey initially hesitated to claim racism but states that after multiple incidents, he can no longer ignore the potential role race plays in how his videos are treated.
• 🔍 Corey uploaded a video on August 18th, 2023, which was age-restricted, while other creators who posted similar content did not face the same restriction, leading him to question YouTube’s policies.
• 📧 Corey appealed the age restriction, but YouTube did not provide clear reasons, and his appeal was rejected despite no clear policy violations.
• 📹 When Corey pointed out that Markiplier's similar video wasn't age-restricted, YouTube reversed its decision and removed the age restriction from Corey’s video, raising suspicions of favoritism.
• 👨‍💻 Corey asked YouTube for answers on why his video was flagged in the first place and who reviewed it, but the situation remained unresolved, further fueling his concerns.
• ⏳ Corey expresses frustration that whenever his videos gain traction, they are quickly scrutinized and targeted for issues that don’t arise when he's not uploading, hinting at potential bias or discrimination.
• ⚖️ He questions why his channel is so thoroughly scrutinized compared to other creators with similar audience sizes and success, particularly during times of heightened activity on his channel.
• 🤷‍♂️ Corey points out that his past experiences, like being struck with a copyright issue when he was trending, suggest that YouTube might be trying to suppress his growth and success.
• 💥 Despite doubts over proving outright racism, Corey emphasizes the unfair treatment of black creators and feels his experience reflects a larger systemic issue within YouTube.
• 🤝 Corey criticizes YouTube’s superficial diversity initiatives like 'YouTube Black', feeling that they are condescending and don't address the underlying issues faced by black creators, such as unequal treatment in moderation and policy enforcement.

Q & A

What is the main accusation Corey is making against YouTube?

Corey is accusing YouTube of either playing favorites, being racist, or a combination of both. He feels that his content is unfairly targeted and scrutinized, especially when compared to other creators.

Why was Corey's video for 'The Mortuary Assistant' age restricted?

Corey's video for 'The Mortuary Assistant' was age restricted, but YouTube did not provide a clear reason. When he appealed, his appeal was rejected, and the age restriction remained in place until he presented evidence of a similar video from Markiplier, which led to the restriction being removed.

How did Corey demonstrate the unfairness in the age restriction decision?

Corey compared his video to Markiplier's, which contained similar content but was not age restricted. After showing this to his YouTube rep, YouTube reversed the age restriction on Corey's video but later re-applied it along with Markiplier's, raising further concerns about fairness and consistency.

What specific questions did Corey ask YouTube about the age restriction process?

Corey asked three main questions: 1) Was the age restriction automated or human-initiated? 2) Who was the human reviewer who rejected his appeal? 3) Why did it take Markiplier’s video for the decision to be reversed?

What is Corey’s perception of the treatment of Black creators on YouTube?

Corey believes there is systemic bias against Black creators, feeling that they are scrutinized more heavily, especially when they gain significant attention or trending status. He also criticizes YouTube for its selective favoritism and patronizing initiatives like 'YouTube Black.'

How does Corey connect his personal experiences with the broader treatment of Black creators on the platform?

Corey connects his experiences of being unfairly targeted with a pattern of mistreatment directed towards Black creators who gain too much visibility. He argues that the system tries to hold them back as their popularity increases, even if they follow platform guidelines.

What does Corey mean when he says 'they got their favorite creators'?

Corey refers to YouTube's tendency to favor certain creators, typically larger or more mainstream figures, while smaller or non-privileged creators, particularly Black creators, face more stringent scrutiny and restrictions.

Why does Corey feel that YouTube's 'YouTube Black' initiative is condescending?

Corey feels that 'YouTube Black' is condescending because it appears to acknowledge Black creators in a superficial way without addressing the underlying issue of unequal treatment. He believes it suggests that Black creators need special assistance to succeed, instead of being recognized for their talent and hard work.

How does Corey describe the impact of his YouTube career on his emotional well-being?

Corey admits that the ongoing issues with YouTube have led to frustration and emotional distress, especially when he feels that his success is being undermined. He expressed that these repeated incidents of scrutiny have built up over time, affecting his perception of fairness on the platform.

What does Corey say would happen if YouTube decided to 'shadow ban' him?

Corey speculates that if YouTube decided to shadow ban him, it would result in his videos not being sent to subscribers, hiding his content from the algorithm, or even terminating his channel entirely. He suggests that YouTube has the power to control his visibility and impact his career behind the scenes.