The algorithmic dance: YouTube’s Adpocalypse and the gatekeeping of cultural content on digital platforms

The March 2017 advertiser revolt on YouTube, popularly known as the adpocalypse, introduced widespread and radical changes on the platform’s policies related to the moderation of content, their ‘monetisability’ and the terms of the relationship between creators and the platform. These changes in tur...

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Main Author: Sangeet Kumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society 2019-06-01
Series:Internet Policy Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://policyreview.info/node/1417
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author Sangeet Kumar
author_facet Sangeet Kumar
author_sort Sangeet Kumar
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description The March 2017 advertiser revolt on YouTube, popularly known as the adpocalypse, introduced widespread and radical changes on the platform’s policies related to the moderation of content, their ‘monetisability’ and the terms of the relationship between creators and the platform. These changes in turn have caused significant discontent within the creator community while also gradually transforming the predominant nature of content on the platform. This essay analyses this controversy that is yet to be subjected to a scholarly investigation, in order to probe the ways in which algorithmic moderation of content affects their monetisability and consequently the viewership patterns of culture. Through closely studying the new regime of content moderation and analysing user testimonies in the aftermath of the ‘Adpocalypse’, this essay poses critical questions about the public utility like role of digital platforms whose gatekeeping function remains largely outside the purview of public debate and deliberation.
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spelling doaj-art-effbc05fb11c43b585ba0413a3e97d572025-08-20T02:03:13ZengAlexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and SocietyInternet Policy Review2197-67752019-06-018210.14763/2019.2.1417The algorithmic dance: YouTube’s Adpocalypse and the gatekeeping of cultural content on digital platformsSangeet Kumar0Denison UniversityThe March 2017 advertiser revolt on YouTube, popularly known as the adpocalypse, introduced widespread and radical changes on the platform’s policies related to the moderation of content, their ‘monetisability’ and the terms of the relationship between creators and the platform. These changes in turn have caused significant discontent within the creator community while also gradually transforming the predominant nature of content on the platform. This essay analyses this controversy that is yet to be subjected to a scholarly investigation, in order to probe the ways in which algorithmic moderation of content affects their monetisability and consequently the viewership patterns of culture. Through closely studying the new regime of content moderation and analysing user testimonies in the aftermath of the ‘Adpocalypse’, this essay poses critical questions about the public utility like role of digital platforms whose gatekeeping function remains largely outside the purview of public debate and deliberation.https://policyreview.info/node/1417AlgorithmsGatekeepingPlatformsYouTubeMonetisationAdpocalypse
spellingShingle Sangeet Kumar
The algorithmic dance: YouTube’s Adpocalypse and the gatekeeping of cultural content on digital platforms
Internet Policy Review
Algorithms
Gatekeeping
Platforms
YouTube
Monetisation
Adpocalypse
title The algorithmic dance: YouTube’s Adpocalypse and the gatekeeping of cultural content on digital platforms
title_full The algorithmic dance: YouTube’s Adpocalypse and the gatekeeping of cultural content on digital platforms
title_fullStr The algorithmic dance: YouTube’s Adpocalypse and the gatekeeping of cultural content on digital platforms
title_full_unstemmed The algorithmic dance: YouTube’s Adpocalypse and the gatekeeping of cultural content on digital platforms
title_short The algorithmic dance: YouTube’s Adpocalypse and the gatekeeping of cultural content on digital platforms
title_sort algorithmic dance youtube s adpocalypse and the gatekeeping of cultural content on digital platforms
topic Algorithms
Gatekeeping
Platforms
YouTube
Monetisation
Adpocalypse
url https://policyreview.info/node/1417
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