How YouTube is helping the far right propel itself into mainstream politics
the Telegraph has a members section so you probably can't read it, I thetfore posted the article in its entirety, the telegraph is a rightwing paper, one I read because its the credible right, generally not mental and it lets me know the thoughts of reasonable rightists, somebexist obviously. This article really resonates with me, it is what i've said for years. Thoughts?
The Telegraph
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How YouTube is helping the far right propel itself into mainstream politics
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The far-right goes to great length to make sure their content on YouTube is presented as an authentic alternative to conventional media
The far-right goes to great length to make sure their content on YouTube is presented as an authentic alternative to conventional media
Look straight at the camera from your bedroom, the street or a makeshift studio. Talk to your audience like they are your friends. Weave big ideas in with anecdotes about your life. Sit back and wait for your subscriber numbers to rise.
This is the basic blueprint used by millions of so-called YouTube "influencers" to manufacture authenticity, grab attention and build trust among a loyal, and often lucrative, network of followers.
Now, a growing group of far right activists is using these very same techniques on YouTube to propel their extremist views into mainstream politics.
"Individuals on the right are increasingly functioning akin to social media influencers," says Chris Allen Associate Professor in Hate Studies, University of Leicester writing in the Conversation.
"Instead of promoting brands or products to large numbers of followers (consumers) across the world, charismatic figures such as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson) are promoting ideas and ideologies to transnational, right-wing consumers. The similarities are real."
Tommy Robinson, former leader of the English Defence League is escorted by the police as supporters of far-right and anti-Islamic English Defence League (EDL) gather in central London to protest against Islam and Islamic terrorism
Tommy Robinson, former leader of the English Defence League is escorted by the police as supporters of far-right and anti-Islamic English Defence League (EDL) gather in central London to protest against Islam and Islamic terrorism
A recent report from think-tank Data & Society found that there is a large and very active international network of YouTube influencers who work to push users towards alternative - and often far-right - news and commentary.
By their estimates, this network is made up of 65 political influencers across 81 channels.
The network manipulates the system so effectively, that someone searching for game reviews on YouTube can quickly find themselves watching a speech on nationalism or white supremacy.
"[These influencers] provide a like-minded community for those who feel like social underdogs for their rejection of progressive values, and they provide a sense of counter-cultural rebellion for those same audiences," writes Rebecca Lewis, the researcher behind the report.
"With these approaches, the influencers of the [network] draw inspiration, approaches, and tactics from alternative media systems of the past, and from the participatory practices of social media platforms of today."
Booking guest appearances on the channels of mainstream YouTubers is one such tactic.
YouTuber Felix "PewDiePie" Kjellerberg, who was cited by Brenton Tarrant in his live stream before the Christchurch massacre, granted a huge platform for the American right to engage with youngsters when he hosted conservative commentator Ben Shapiro on a meme show last year.
Jared Holt, the US campaigner who sparked the revolt against Infowars and Alex Jones last year, said that far right commentators often favour live streams, which are harder for YouTube to control and moderate and allow them to call for revenue through viewer donations.
"Far-right creators often complain about having their content demonetized and deemed unfriendly for YouTube ad partners, and going live while taking fan donations provides a convenient way around that issue," he said.
The far-right also goes to great length to make sure their content on YouTube is presented as an authentic alternative to conventional media.
Lewis compares this to the methods used by the underground press of the New Left in the 1960s, which pioneered a journalistic approach that focused on storytelling and authenticity rather than objectivity.
Behind the scenes, they use search engine optimisation to rank against politically charged keywords and try to monetise all of their videos.
They also use marketing and advertising approaches to "sell" political ideology to their audiences and use personal tales of self-improvement to connect with their audience.
Such techniques have given YouTube stars, no matter their views, incredible political clout.
This was proven last year when when 22-year-old Kim Kataguiri became the youngest person ever elected to Brazilian Congress, mostly through his 'news organisation' on YouTube.
A classic alt-Right populist who reached millions of young Brazilians, Kataguiri now leads political party the Free Brazil Movement (MBL), which is majority funded by YouTube contributions.
"What is clear about the extreme right wing today is that it is far removed from the stereotypical 'football hooligan'', and 'feet on the street' image of the far right in the 1970s and 1980s," says Allen.
"While street protests by groups such as Britain First continue to reinforce this image, the reality of the extreme right wing is that it thrives online."
Tackling the rise of the far right is something all social media sites struggle with - but not enough is being done.
After the Parkland shooting in the US, at least one far-right group crafted a strategy to game YouTube’s Trending tab into promoting false videos and hide information they didn't like, according to a Daily Beast report. Last weekend, the site was overrun with videos sharing the Christchurch massacre.
YouTube says that it is applying "tougher treatment" to videos that have been flagged by users and they find that they are not in violation but contain controversial religious or supremacist content.
This doesn't mean they will take them down, just that they will not be recommended or allowed to feature likes or comments, and cannot be monetised.
"We have thousands of people around the world who review and tackle abuse of our platforms, and we encourage people to flag any videos that they believe violate our guidelines," a YouTube spokesperson says.
But it's only recently that the company has promised that it will reduce recommendations of questionable content or videos that could misinform users in harmful ways.
Regardless, a new generation of digital savvy alt-right activists has emerged, and YouTube may have to do far more to tackle their hate-filled views online that it has so far promised.
__________________ Chicken Boo, what's the matter with you? You don't act like the other chickens do. You wear a disguise to look like human guys, but you're not a man you're a Chicken Boo.
Instead of posting crap, try to critique your objection to the article.
I would start by asking what the article means by far right. Does that mean Americans who support the US Constitution? Does it mean people who oppose abortion? Does it mean people who support smaller government? Is the Telegraph and American of European publication? Because far right has a bi of a different meaning in Europe.
Okay: my objection is this guy is a troll, creates numerous troll threads meant to bait specific people or just start shit, and you do nothing about it. Don't believe me? Pop over to his history and look at all his recent thread creations. Then come back and tell me you honestly believe he's making these things in good faith.
He constantly whines about youtubers, mislabels certain content creators as alt right, mislabels people here as alt right, etc. I realize you aren't aware of this cuz you don't see it, but it occurs all the time.
__________________ Chicken Boo, what's the matter with you? You don't act like the other chickens do. You wear a disguise to look like human guys, but you're not a man you're a Chicken Boo.
Last edited by Surtur on Mar 25th, 2019 at 08:24 PM
Since you know that the mods aren't going to stop him from making his troll/bait threads. here is an idea, stop responding to them. the main reason he posts them is that he knows certain people will always take the bait.
__________________ posted by Badabing
I don't know why some of you are going on about being right and winning. Rob and Impediment were in on this gag because I PMed them. Silent and Rao PMed me and figured I changed the post. I highly doubt anybody thought Quan made the post, but simply played along just for the lulz.
True, I just figured he should be informed the OP is full of shit and not to be taken seriously. I know Imp and Backfire are aware of his BS, not sure if Bada was.
__________________ Chicken Boo, what's the matter with you? You don't act like the other chickens do. You wear a disguise to look like human guys, but you're not a man you're a Chicken Boo.
Yea, but you also responded to the thread before Bada ever posted in here. so PB got what he wanted.
__________________ posted by Badabing
I don't know why some of you are going on about being right and winning. Rob and Impediment were in on this gag because I PMed them. Silent and Rao PMed me and figured I changed the post. I highly doubt anybody thought Quan made the post, but simply played along just for the lulz.
__________________ Chicken Boo, what's the matter with you? You don't act like the other chickens do. You wear a disguise to look like human guys, but you're not a man you're a Chicken Boo.
True, I realize even on ignore I'm still in his head. I'm done responding to his crazy threads, but at least now I know for sure all the mods who frequent this part of the board know what he's up to.
__________________ Chicken Boo, what's the matter with you? You don't act like the other chickens do. You wear a disguise to look like human guys, but you're not a man you're a Chicken Boo.
Double post under me from Surt, almost certainly incel tears. As Bada pointed out he should address the thread rather than attack the poster with ad hominems. Fortunately the mods know his ways.
Cripes. I closed both threads with the words "tard" in the title. To me, those are troll threads. I respond to the reports and don't read through every thread.
My guess is that these threads get made because a lot of people just react with short expressions rather than deep responses. I think some of you are being pushed to elaborate.
I'm conservative in all matters with government. I'm libertarian with matters of a person's personal life, except abortion. And I'm a pro-Trumper. So odds are I'll agree on matters with most of the people who complain in the GDF.
Never let anyone else define you. Don't be a jerk just to be a jerk, but if you are expressing your true inner feelings and beliefs, or at least trying to express that inner child, and everyone gets pissed off about it, never NEVER apologize for it. Let them think what they want, let them define you in their narrow little minds while they suppress every last piece of them just to keep a friend that never liked them for themselves in the first place.
The funny thing is Surt acts like the mods here don't know me. They've known me at least a decade and a half, some longer and as cdtm has noted on many occasions, I'm not a troll just someone who pushes people's buttons making points. Bada's right short responses aren't discussion always.
Why would I want to limit creativity like that? It's for contributors to discuss not for me to lead the thread. Original thought and critical thinking should not be a problem but an opportunity.
Your Lord knows very well what is in your heart. Your soul suffices this day as a reckoner against you. I need no witnesses. You do not listen to your soul, but listen instead to your anger and your rage.
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