YouTube May Be Shooting Themselves in the Foot

If you're like me, you enjoy browsing YouTube and getting lost in the endless sea of informative tutorials, comedic sketches, captivating cinematography, and epic displays of human genius. I often find myself searching for a specific video on YouTube to share with a friend and, 2 hours later, I have fallen down the rabbit hole, mesmerized by a video of a squirrel stuck in a bird feeder. Today, however, I feel it is necessary to bring to your attention an unfortunate stance which YouTube has taken toward a specific genre of video.

YouTube has officially proclaimed their boycott against all firearm-related videos.

While their efforts are good-hearted and genuine, I foresee a large problem with their attempts at solving the issue at hand. YouTube aims to eliminate videos which glorify criminal gun violence such as ISIS propaganda and fear-mongering material. LET ME BE CLEAR: I do tremendously support their efforts to eliminate such smut from the internet. Fear has no place in our society and such actions as those taken by ISIS are abhorrent. They sicken me and fill my heart with a righteous anger for those who murder the innocent. I believe that YouTube's efforts to combat the spread of this type of media is a step in the right direction. However, there is an issue with the broadness of their boycott.

YouTube's algorithms have been designed to boycott the monetization of every video which displays firearms, in whatever manner that may be. This includes firearms safety educational videos, proper firearms handling tutorials, ethical hunting videos, and responsible firearms enjoyment. These aspects are all to be celebrated by United States citizens, as it is our Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights which ultimately protects all other Amendments. A well-armed and well-trained nation is a safe nation. An atmosphere of danger is created when the populace is uneducated and stigmatized. This is why I believe that firearms familiarity and safety education is paramount in creating a safer society.

In this short video, Matt Dubber, an enthusiastic outdoorsman and pre-charged pneumatic air rifles specialist, talks about the issues associated with YouTube's demonitization policy. Around 2:20, he highlights the benefits and drawbacks of the boycott. Matt is a great inspiration to many of the airgunning and long range shooting community. His videos are an excellent source of knowledge and entertainment. Go show him some love and check out his videos.

Think of it this way: Gun safety is comparable to safe drinking. If you wanted to teach your kids about both the benefits and dangers of alcohol, you would inform them about how to consume it safely. In order to enjoy alcohol to its fullest and purest potential, it must be consumed RESPONSIBLY. Alcohol is neither good nor bad. It can be used in moderation for health benefits and enjoyment, or it can be used excessively to deteriorate health, create addiction, destroy families, and cause death. Guns are no different. They are neither good nor bad. It is the individual who decides how they will use the tool. Firearms can be used responsibly to hunt, target shoot, to defend yourself, and to save innocent lives. They can also be used irresponsibly and unethically to spread fear and kill innocent people. Guns are not the problem. People are the problem.

Due to YouTube's generalized algorithms, firearms education channels are being unfairly stripped of their monetization. These channel's operators are losing their livelihoods and sources of income. This has caused many individuals, including myself, to wonder if their favorite channels will be shut down due to an inability to afford to produce quality material.

YouTube's representatives insist that eventually, the demonitization issue will be resolved, but how long could it take? Weeks? Months? How many channels will be forced to close their doors before this issue is resolved? These are all questions which plague the minds of many YouTubers. Ultimately, if we want to continue to see this level of quality material produced on YouTube, the responsibility of funding may fall on the shoulders of the viewers.

Until next time,

Good Fortune and Godspeed

-Mike Knipp