Criticism and controversies
YouTube, a video sharing platform, has faced various criticisms over the years, particularly regarding content moderation, offensive content, and monetization. YouTube has faced criticism over aspects of its operations,[217] its recommendation algorithms perpetuating videos that promote conspiracy theories and falsehoods,[218] hosting videos ostensibly targeting children but containing violent or sexually suggestive content involving popular characters,[219] videos of minors attracting pedophilic activities in their comment sections,[220] and fluctuating policies on the types of content that is eligible to be monetized with advertising.[217]
YouTube has also been blocked by several countries. As of 2018, public access to YouTube was blocked by countries including China, North Korea, Iran, Turkmenistan,[221] Uzbekistan,[222][223] Tajikistan, Eritrea, Sudan and South Sudan.Privacy concerns
Since its founding in 2005, the American video-sharing website YouTube has been faced with a growing number of privacy issues, including allegations that it allows users to upload unauthorized copyrighted material and allows personal information from young children to be collected without their parents' consent.
In September 2024, the Federal Trade Commission released a report summarizing 9 company responses (including from YouTube) to orders made by the agency pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 to provide information about user and non-user data collection (including of children and teenagers) and data use by the companies that found that the companies' user and non-user data practices put individuals vulnerable to identity theft, stalking, unlawful discrimination, emotional distress and mental health issues, social stigma, and reputational harm.[224][225][226]