YouTube forced to alter its restricted mode after receiving backlash
Kate O’Hagan, Tempo Editor
Photo courtesy of Instagram user Tyler Oakley.
Tyler Oakley drapes himself in gay pride flag.
YouTube has changed its classifications on some LGBT videos following backlash over their option of restricted viewing mode.
While YouTube’s restricted viewing mode is not new, viewers were not happy when they realized the extent of the restrictions.
Content creators and their fans were confused to find out that certain videos, mostly affiliated with the LGBT community, were invisible when restricted viewing mode was enabled.
While many pop music videos, from artists including Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus and 5 Seconds of Summer were also hidden, the majority of content being hidden was based on whether the creator or content had discussed LGBT topics.
YouTube personality Tyler Oakley tweeted about how perplexed he was to find out that his and several other LGBT creators’ videos were not being shown when the setting is on.
Fans of the popular video site followed Oakley’s confusion and it took it one step further by trending “#YouTubeIsOverParty” on Twitter to protest their distaste of the streaming website singling out videos that reference same-sex relationships or attraction.
In a tweet from the YouTube Creators’ twitter, @YTCreators, YouTube expressed that the purpose of restricted mode was to filter out “mature” content for viewers that “want a more limited experience.”
Still, creators and viewers weren’t satisfied with that explanation.
“Oops! You did this wrong. How to fix this: admit you messed up, apologize without excuses, immediately stop enforcing the ineffective policy,” tweeted Oakley.
After continued criticism of restricted mode and their initial statement, YouTube took advice from Oakley.
“Some videos have been incorrectly labeled and that’s not right. We’re on it! More to come,” Youtube said in a tweet.
