A YouTuber is currently being heavily criticized on Reddit for attempting to capitalize on the death of Kobe Bryant. YouTube has repeatedly come under pressure lately for the way it handles video uploads resulting in the service implementing stronger verification methods and cracking down on undesired content. However, in this case it appears to have been the backlash that has taken the video offline.
Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash on January 26th in California. Within hours, tributes began pouring in for the NBA legend, including on YouTube. However, one YouTuber thought it would be a good idea to release a video showing himself having a text chat and phone call with Bryant (the number apparently obtained from the “dark web”), followed by someone answering and appearing to say “help me.” Towards the end of the video, the YouTuber turns to the usual YouTube engagement methods by asking viewers to leave a comment, before going as far as to say he will leak Bryant’s mobile phone number if the video “gets 1,000 likes.”
Needless to say, those who have come across the video already are far from happy with the disrespectful nature of the content, and at least one Reddit thread has taken particular offense to the video. While the YouTube video has since been set to private by the YouTuber, the video has been re-uploaded by others in a bid to further bring attention to the issue. And it’s an issue that’s becoming all too familiar on YouTube.
YouTube’s Clickbait Culture Knows No Bounds
Over the past couple of years, YouTube has regularly come under criticism for the way it handles videos – especially in relation to younger viewers. However, there’s a far more deep-seated issue with the video sharing platform where users will seemingly do anything they can for quick views, irrespective of who it might hurt. As bad as this latest YouTube video is, it is not the only one like it. Back in 2019, YouTuber, ImJayStation, came under similar criticisms for a video following the death of Desmond Amofah - another YouTuber more commonly known as “Etika.” While the backlash for that video led to a Change.org petition to have ImJayStation removed from the platform, that didn’t stop the same YouTuber from even more recently posting videos where he pretended his girlfriend had died.
At a time when all tech companies are under pressure to ensure the level of toxic content on their platform is kept to a minimum, YouTube appears to have an inherent issue due to the nature of the platform. With so many focused on producing content that goes “viral”, it remains to be seen how the issue can ever be overcome. Adding to the problem, with each video like this that does go live, the “too far” barrier appears to be continuously moving further, resulting in YouTubers going to even further lengths to create content that has a similar impact - the ImJayStation situation a prime example. With no obvious way for YouTube to change how it fundamentally operates, and YouTubers continuously resorting to even more shocking content, this is unlikely to be the last time a video like this gets posted. It’s a point made by many in the Reddit thread which only goes to further highlight this is a YouTube problem that’s just getting worse.
More: NBA Star Kobe Bryant Dies at 41
Source: Reddit
