4.2.2. Accountability: I can’t contact YouTube.

Interesting is that a lot of Tubers complain that they cannot contact YouTube staff directly to state their argument on why they think their video/account was falsely flagged and appeal against YouTube’s decision. In the comments section of videos related to flagging it is often found that users falsely accuse YouTube itself of flagging their videos, while it’s the community that does the flagging.

This sort of mistrust towards the company behind a social site is also observed by danah boyd on Friendster, when the company tried to ban out fakesters from the platform and started to implement regulation and force a code of conduct on the users for consumer protection:

Because of earlier efforts to regulate Friendster community norms, the service creators were widely mistrusted; many participants felt they were being punished for their fun. Paranoia emerged in the bulletin boards as word spread that individuals were being targeted for limited access; others argued that the problems were the precursor to a tiered fee structure. (boyd, 2008, p.151)

The possible reason for the user-community on YouTube to ‘blame’ the company for falsely flagged videos (besides being misinformed about how the system works) is because YouTube is the one who has set up the rules to begin with;

“Although participants play a strong role in the development of cultural norms, Friendster is still a privately controlled environment. The company sets guidelines for acceptable practice, via both rules of conduct and architectural constraints. A ban on nudity in profiles is one such rule, although many participants push that boundary. Participants are further restricted from linking to their personal web sites and they are expected to use real names and upload photos that depict them in natural settings, without digital alteration or copyrighted material. Friendster enforces its policies by removing
infringing material. Tensions emerge when participants perceive themselves as the primary norm setters and the developers’ actions as restrictions of presumed freedoms.” (boyd, 2008, p.141)

And YouTube does make the final decision in the flagging system as it is set up now, but that does not mean that users cannot appeal in their decisions or on the system itself. All the changes that have been made thus far are partly inspired by feedback of the community. It’s true however that flagging a video is much easier to do than it is to appeal a decision through contact forms and getting through to YouTube.

But more importantly, there is no one else to hold accountable. Which leads back to the question of ‘Who Flagged My Video?’ Wouldn’t it be easier to take out YouTube of this part of the moderation process and that we’ve got each other to blame.