YouTube is an online video sharing platform that allows users to upload, view, share, rate, comment on, report, like, dislike, and subscribe to videos. It has become one of the most popular platforms for creative expression and social interaction. Creators make videos about anything from music to sports, gaming to politics, cooking to science, fashion to art, education to entertainment. Amongst all these topics, there are also many channels dedicated to sex and intimacy. Some of them are educational, some are instructional, some are funny, some are inspiring, but they are all erotic in nature. Many people enjoy watching and making such content because it is interesting, exciting, sensual, and liberating.
YouTube's monetization system can reinforce or suppress creators' willingness to produce this type of content. When creators post sexual content, their videos may be demonetized, meaning they cannot earn money from advertising revenue through YouTube's Partner Program. This means they must find alternative ways to monetize their channel, which can be difficult and time-consuming.
Creators may feel pressure to conform to societal norms around sex and relationships to avoid being demonetized, leading to unconscious compromises in self-expression.
In order to understand how YouTube's monetization system affects creators' willingness to produce erotic relational content, we need to look at the history of erotica and its representation on YouTube. Eroticism is a part of human culture and an important aspect of our lives. People have always been fascinated by sexuality, whether expressed explicitly or implicitly. Throughout history, it has taken different forms, including art, literature, film, music, and now digital media. YouTube provides a platform for creators to share their erotic ideas with a global audience.
When creators make erotic content, they run the risk of having their videos demonetized due to YouTube's policies. These policies state that ads should not appear next to content that violates community guidelines, such as nudity, pornography, incest, bestiality, violence, hate speech, bullying, and harassment. As a result, many creators choose to self-censor themselves, limiting what they say and do in their videos. They may also create more mainstream content, focusing on other topics like beauty, fashion, fitness, or lifestyle.
This can lead to unconscious compromises in creators' self-expression. Creators may not be able to fully express themselves or explore their true desires because they are afraid of losing income. This can lead to less authentic and meaningful content being produced.
It can stifle innovation and creativity, which is essential for the growth of any medium. If creators feel pressure to conform to certain norms, they will produce less interesting and engaging content.
While YouTube's monetization system can reinforce creators' willingness to produce erotic relational content, it can also suppress them from doing so freely. The consequences of this can include self-censorship and loss of revenue. To support creative expression and freedom of expression, YouTube must allow all types of content without fear of censorship or demonetization. Otherwise, we risk losing valuable voices in our culture who bring new perspectives and ideas to light.
How does YouTube's monetization system reinforce or suppress creators' willingness to produce erotic relational content, and what unconscious compromises emerge in their self-expression?
YouTube's monetization system may have both positive and negative effects on creators' willingness to produce erotic relational content. On one hand, it provides financial rewards for creating videos that conform to YouTube's rules and guidelines, which may discourage creators from producing more controversial or risky content such as erotica.