© Unsplash/Thomas Wiediger
The American platform YouTube has always supported, like other giants across the Atlantic, the values of the United States. Including a certain vision of freedom of expression, with the background of the sacralization of the American Constitution of 1776 and its amendments. It’no one escapes the fact that one of them makes sacred the right to hold a weapon.
As a result, to this day we still find a plethora of videos on the platform showing or praising firearms. Even indicating how to remove the security from the latter… the arrival of 3D printing has even seen how to print a lethal weapon in the comfort of his home.
How YouTube is tightening the screws on guns
All this remains accessible everywhere in the world, without restriction other (and still) than the language barrier. Including in countries like France where this kind of thing is strictly prohibited by law. Obviously, all this is something to raise eyebrows, seen from this side of the Atlantic. Especially when we know the devastation caused by firearms in the United States.
In a hyper-connected era, marked by dangers such as terrorism, the lack of action from the platform protected by the American constitution remains something extremely strange, and frustrating. Since this exports, even at a minimum, the consequences of this arbitrary vision elsewhere in the world.
Almost 20 years (!) after the very first YouTube video, we learn that the platform's policy in this area is (finally) about to tighten the screw more frankly. Thus, from June 18, 2024, all videos talking about firearms, whether made at home or not, and firearm accessories, will be prohibited under 18 years old.
Videos showing firearms being fired will also be prohibited for those under 18 years of age. Finally, any videos showing how to remove the safety on these weapons will simply be deleted. In the event of repeated posting of this type of video, YouTube has the right to ban the channel.
“These updates to our firearms policy are part of our ongoing efforts to maintain policies that reflect the current state content on YouTube. For example, 3D printing has become more easily accessible in recent years, so we are expanding our restrictions on content involving homemade firearms. We regularly review our guidelines and consult with external experts to ensure we draw the line in the right place”, says a spokesperson for the platform.
Of course, one could object that these measures do not necessarily go far enough yet. Even though he's shy, it's still a step in the right direction…
- As of June 18, 2024, YouTube's firearms policy will change.
- The platform will limit the viewing of this content to those over 18 years old.
- Certain content is now completely prohibited.
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