Censorship On YouTube Creates An Unique Opportunity For Decentralized Platforms Like Steemit to Create An Alternative Video Platform

in #steemit8 years ago

Censorship On YouTube Creates An Unique Opportunity For Decentralized Platforms Like Steemit to Create An Alternative Video Platform

If you haven’t been watching YouTube drama or hearing the news in the past few days, it seems that YouTube has changed its terms of service to allow demonetization of any content they deem not “advertiser friendly”. YouTube is a private entity overall, but the fact of the matter is, they are using the new terms of service to censor and essentially push undesirable creators off YouTube. Many creators who rely on ad revenue to survive and continue to make content are now fearing that they will be one of the targets whose videos get demonetized. It isn’t only small channels that have been targeted either, with channels like Phillip Defranco’s with about 4.5 million subs and various channels around the 1 million subscriber mark. I linked the video created by Defranco to explain the changes, below. In order to find videos that YouTube deems not “advertiser friendly”, they are using severely flawed bots and refusing to undo any demonetization actions that have been taken. Some might say, go to another site, but currently no other centralized sites compare to YouTube in the form of earnings for content creators. However, a decentralized solution might be the answer.

I believe that this change and other changes that YouTube has made in the near past, creates a massive opportunity for Steemit to cater to a whole new use case. A decentralized platform like Steemit can bring in content from YouTube, cut out the centralized middle man and better reward creators for their work. With YouTube taking 50-60% of the ad revenue on many accounts, it is unbelievable that many of the creators can even make a living. People who are averaging a million views per video and adding hundreds and thousands of hours of entertainment to many around the world deserve to be properly compensated for their work. YouTube’s current cut is a modern day form of sharecropping, allowed because they have exclusivity of the platform. If we open up a new platform that can bring in and support existing YouTube creators, we can capture a large portion of the market cap from YouTube and do it in a decentralized way that would even cut out advertisers.

This brings me to how realistic a possibility it would be to build a video streaming service off the Steemit blockchain. I am not a technical person by any means, but maybe people could chime in on if this could actually work, or if there was a work around to do it. If we could find a way to create a Steemit site like Steemtube that would have all the current features YouTube has and working off the same blockchain as Steemit, we could revolutionize the content creation platform. Video accounts and Steemit accounts could be synced so creators could easily and effectively talk and respond to fans. Even if the videos were hosted elsewhere and not actually on the Steemit blockchain, we could still create a video platform that would monetize videos without creators. Fans would essentially be able to directly influence a creators earnings by liking their content rather than the current model, where creators rely on advertisements, which many adblock.

Another great part about a new decentralized platform, is that it would be censorship resistant and avoid the copyright abuse by companies that has been going on for years on YouTube. For example, despite using footage and screenshots of Nintendo products under completely legal fair use, Nintendo will pull down your video without hesitation if you are not an affiliated Nintendo channel. This type of abuse by companies and the advertisers themselves is another main reason why people have been trying to leave YouTube, but have been vastly unsuccessful. If we truly want content that is uninfluenced by corporate entities and sponsorship we need a decentralized solution that can still provide creators with a living. Steemit can be that solution if the correct steps are taken to make it happen.

People often talk about the big killer app in crypto and on the blockchain, and monetized video and content creation could be it. If you are a programmer and know the technical ins and outs, how can we make this a reality? Even if workarounds have to be used, like posting a video elsewhere and then putting it on the blockchain, if we provide the basic video site infrastructure, we would still be able to capture a large part of the market. Creators will start flocking over in droves if they know that another solution is available. Let me know what you think, suggestions you have or how we can make this a reality.

-Calaber24p

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Youtube's current flaws that appeal to "Steemtube"

  • Video length is hitting the 10min mark -videos are getting longer, because of ads = more money -Explanation here
  • Mild censoring before and after watching that video, heavy censoring now

Steemtube:
-How to by a tech-y, but not a coder
The actual posts would be on the blockchain, but the way to make videos decentralized > uncensorable, is a user hosted peer to peer network, where the users taking part in the network would get some type of share. Or to use this badboy: storj.io

The recent bad changes to YouTube, are just a big plus for a possibility like Steemtube.

Note: Graphene (the technology behind Steem(it) can't be used for video hosting.

yes we need steemit channels , like youtube has !!!

That is basically someones blog page isn't it? I would sooner suggest Steemit gets something similar to sub-reddits but avoid having moderators that delete anything that doesn't fit their narrative.

Youtube's loss could be Steemit's gain!

ABSOLUTELY!

definitely, youtube has become a corporate entity that needs to die.

I've been watching the YouTube drama. It really feels like something overcorrected (as opposed to all the notices being intended effect of new terms.) I even saw a screenshot on twitter of an innocent video about a video game being bad getting de-monetized(!?)(Possibly Nintendo stuff you referenced above.)

This leads me to think they'll pull back a bit, and don't have total control of the system, and de-monetization will be less aggressive. I've also seen chatter that disputing stuff is pretty effective/responsive.

This doesn't mean I think we should all relax and put all our eggs in one basket. Just that I think this spike of chaos will settle down.

On to your main point: Creative people definitely need to be able to distribute their risk/investment across a bunch of platforms (and some Internet romantics would even say, "Host it yourself, own your infrastructure, etc.") I'm in a camp where I think creative people should be allowed to not think about distribution/technical/marketing (if they want), so I get the appeal of YouTube's platform. Those creators can focus just on making videos. (And it's been amazing to watch creators "grow into" caring about marketing/distribution/business, as they get big, but only because they were able to focus on creating in the early stages.)

YouNow (very popular, but mostly with very young people, so unknown to many) is a social video platform not worlds apart from a consumer-friendly steem. Users can gift each other virtual goods/currency, (as opposed to less efficient sliver of ad rev share). So lots of creators are getting well paid over there, without requiring the huge audiences it requires to make sizable money on YouTube.

As soon as I saw steem, I thought of YouNow. (YouNow being a possibly model for how simple the steem experience could become.)

Anyway, if you or any lurkers are interested in social platform monetization patterns, I track them and wrote some stuff up.

UPDATE: it's looking more and more like the only thing that changed was the notification style, not the policy. These videos were already demonetized, just silently.(https://medium.com/internet-creators-guild/youtube-de-monetization-explained-44464f902a22#.q4npv7iyi)
They also still get YouTube Red revenue.

It is an overreaction, basically companies who post ads have a say on what kind of content their ads are placed with. Its actually perfectly sensible.

However, Steemit has a similar problem in the form of a dependence on whale votes. The equivalent would be to cry that giving whales a right to vote on what they like is a form of censorship.

It is amazing how many possibilities exist here. I wish I was smart enough to carry some out lol.

You stole my line! But it's ok. No choking required

I had the same thoughts, but Steem at least alone isn't capable of bringing something that could replace Youtube. Steem actually only allows text, photos and videos have to be linked. This is b/c the blockchain would become waay too big if you even allowed photos in posts let alone videos.

We need an open source decentralized way to upload videos so they can then get linked (maidsafecoin?) and then an interface like steemit could come in with steem's monetization system. Ads wouldn't be necessary anymore but if you do use ads no more middleman taking a huge cut, but monetization directly from user engagement really has the least middlemen and is best for content creators and content quality.


I have been trying to get my other YouTubers to start posting their content on this site. But when a person like me posts the above quality video on this EXACT subject and makes .09 cents on here, and this blog was probably written in about a hundredth the amount of time, and get's 1 grand. It becomes a hard sell to other YouTubers who aren't going to waste their time like me. This "decentralized" platform is actually highly centralized, and if you aren't a favorite of one of the whales on here, you might as well be whistling in the wind. https://steemit.com/steemit/@titusfrost/steemit-ending-twitter-shadow-banning-and-youtube-censorship

Here in Germany we really stuggle with "censorship", because so called GEMA is locking many songs on Youtube. Because of "missing rights" and some sh**.
It really annoys the heck out of me when my favourite tracks get banned!
I'm glad that I stick more one steemit since June.

Happy steeming and have a great day

Steemit would benefit from its own private video channels. Youtube had been screwing people for awhile on ads. Then as you mentioned Nintendo which is still acts like the internet doesn't exist. Both hamper creativity. Steemit is the answers to our creative people here.

Great Idea!

Clearly Steemit has a lot of growth potential and I really think we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg when considering all the possible growth opportunities. Platforms like YouTube and Facebook are becoming so cocky about their current level of power it is only a matter of time before they get too cocky and shoot themselves in the head. The People are waking up. And when a majority of The People decide they have had enough and move beyond these power hungry megamonsters Facebook, YouTube and others will have to adapt to the new paradigm or die off like the dinosaurs. I foresee a bright future ahead for decentralization and Steemit!

It is a goog idea to implement a youtube rival based on crypto currency like steemit.

I made a post about this before reading this one. Definitely would like to be apart of this. https://steemit.com/steemit/@icanehdian/steemy-video-platform-concept-youtubeisoverparty

Would it make sense to use something like maidsafe to store the videos? Could Steem access maidsafe network to stream the video? Nice idea.

It would Be Cool if
We could Get A Video Section Here
Or On Like Another Site
And People Could Go There And Post
Videos For Steemit

How typical that 'you' tube should go this way. Totally sell out to the advertizing corporate world. I had been on it since 2006, and was part of this community who were interested in encouraging ecological awareness etc. But they started messing with peoples channels, etc and just destroyed it

Then, more recently I started getting this feeling from seeing the thumbnail images of videos just HOW corporate everything was looking. So this is no surprise really. THIS is what they try and do in cyberspace and real space. Creeative communities naturally form, and then the vampire suking ad men appear, stealing ideas whilst threatening and doing people for 'copyright, and then rents go up, and those whose voices and art disturb these evil shts are cast out from the very place they had helped to create. And then what we are left with is a dead plastic hideous ugly vile corporate zone

there has to be a total radical break with this destructive pattern, and it boils down to this: DO NOT SELL OUT. KEEP YOUR INTEGRITY
Because these people will try and seduce people with wads of cash and fame

LOOK at how many real meaningful music from the era when music mattered has been sold to the corporate machine to push its shoddy product

Fck 'you' tube!!!

yes youtube does feel very corporate I hate getting on there

Any time people are unhappy with the work done in legacy centralized systems is a golden opportunity for steemit really. I hope someone here has the smarts and initiative to put forth an innovative video platform that can draw interest from the unhappy YouTubers.

There are so many different opportunities for steem to topple so many different social media platforms right now. Conquering Youtube would be a breeze with the monetary aspect of steem.

GOOD POINT!

Upvoted and Shared

Would be neat to have Steemit's own videos!

Good point. It seems that the reasons to steem keep growing, and we certainly may have a great video opportunity. It didn't take @blueorgy too long to make https://www.steemimg.com , so I'm looking forward to see who might be able to help in areas like the one that you pointed out.
Keep up the good work!

I bet a lot of the youtube content creators would happily bail and migrate here right away!

I dont know how easy it would be to integrate IPFS into Steemit but it seems Alexandria.io is using it already. It really is quite exciting in these blockchain times for all creators out there.

The creepy thing about censorship is you never know exactly how much is happening.

I didn't know about these new YT policies. I don't really deal with YT much besides watching videos. Thakns for update.
I think that this policy is ridiculous and I really like your idea. It is great concept. It is trange that no one has done it yet. The first person whoe does blochhain based video streaming website will be a winner.

Hey the potential of steemtube is huge ! You will make money from people liking your content and not from the ads. This will be great for small channels that don't have many views.

Totally true!
What about Mega, K. Dotcom is all for crypto?

Maidsafe isn't ready yet. Sia or Storj neither. Have you tried Maid? Its very basic and I was a bit disappointed about the release. Would be better to pick something which may get ready during this decade.

In a blockchain model content would have to be replicated across many servers, to guarantee availability. I'm not a big fan of storage on the blockchain, in a public model. It may become interesting for private clusters in data centers, though.

Streaming video is expensive, consumes a lot of traffic and disk space. And content would have to be controlled in some way, otherwise it would be full of porn and other explicit or criminal content soon.

I could understand the YouTube policies in a way. To monetize on video the content has to be appealing to the viewers. No advertiser would like to see their ads on some lo-life clip.

This is a freaking fantastic idea. I have a friend who started a Youtube channel, as an alternative means of income while going through health struggles that prevented his former construction labors. Anyway, he started building homemade guns, built up quite a following that was paying his house payment. Then Youtube took all of his content and moved it over to their adult category, making it impossible to find without a direct link. Something like this would be awesome for guys like him and a million others, I am sure.

I love your premise but don't think it's feasible to do on the Steem blockchain. This is where I think we need to work with other decentralized technologies to create solutions based on each tech's strength. The SAFE Network (aka MaidSafe) is our best bet for decentralized video service. I discuss this topic in a four part series, starting here https://steemit.com/maidsafe/@nonlinearone/how-steemit-can-benefit-from-maidsafe-and-the-safe-network

Wonderful idea but for whom? At the moment it looks like Steemit is only profitable for a very small percentage of people if you look at it from an USD value standpoint because it depends of the dynamics of the price of steem. End of next year I will be able to finally judge how the system plays out and if it sustainable.
@steempowerwhale 🐳
🌞 upvoting your lifetime dreams!

Good point, it would be cool to see Steemit fill that void.

Great post Calaber24p,

Being a yootoober myself, I've already had my channel deleted twice in the past so I've experienced the heavy handed "community guidelines" bots. Thankfully though, we already have a great alternative powered by bitcoin!

http://www.watchmybit.com/channel/kenistyles

Watchmybit.com is for anyone interested in a great decentralized competitor to youtube. Earn daily payouts directly to your wallet and it's growing day by day! In the future I'd love to see a platform that provides creators all the tools to monetize their content in one place. Like a Steemit/Watchmybit love child..

Also programmers please don't forget to enable a way for us to embed our articles and videos on our own domains and blog sites.

Steem on! :)

You can know watch youtube with unblocked youtube here that can be used as proxy for youtube online.