# how to complain about Youtube video? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 4, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418 "2014-10-04T23:48:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/1 "2014-10-04T23:48:58Z")
I’ve just stumbled across a bunch of pro-Nazi videos on Youtube. I presume this must violate some sort of policy or registration agreement. But I don’t see any “report this video” button to hit. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/2 "2014-10-04T23:53:16Z")
If you look [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmpMO2dJQ6Q) you’ll see a button beneath the video that says _More_ (it’s next to the _Add To_ and _Share_ buttons). Clicking on it drops down to reveal a report option. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/3 "2014-10-05T00:23:02Z")
Okay, I’ve tried that. Nothing visible happens. Using Firefox, and I tried disabling Adblock. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/4 "2014-10-05T00:28:47Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Okay, I’ve tried that. Nothing visible happens. What do you mean by “nothing visible happens”? The video isn’t going to be taken down immediately just because you’ve reported it. Or do you mean you’re not seeing a report button after clicking _More_? ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/5 "2014-10-05T00:35:15Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv_vbcVOgt8) Simple google search. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/6 "2014-10-05T00:37:05Z")
> [@](#): > > What do you mean by “nothing visible happens”? On the straight dope, when I click the report post button, a message box opens so that I can describe what the problem is. I was expecting something similar, but no. Nothing like that happens when I hit the Youtube report button. I’d expect, at least, to see a message saying “video reported” or something. But It doesn’t even do that. It gives no visible sign that any report has been sent. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/7 "2014-10-05T00:41:15Z")
You should see [this box](http://s28.postimg.org/d07cszfyl/Example.png) appear when you hit the report button. If you’re not it’s probably an issue with your browser or internet settings. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/8 "2014-10-05T00:58:13Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I’ve just stumbled across a bunch of pro-Nazi videos on Youtube. I presume this must violate some sort of policy or registration agreement. But I don’t see any “report this video” button to hit. Why are you making that presumption? If pro Nazi videos are banned, what about pro ISIL videos? What about pro Communist or Fascist videos? Where does it stop? Exactly what kind of videos should adults be allowed to watch? You seem to imply that the average adult is not capable of seeing that these pro-whatever videos are just propaganda BS. I still believe that when it comes to political propaganda, adults don’t need the government’s assistance as far as what they can watch and what they can’t watch. We are not little children. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/9 "2014-10-05T01:05:02Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > I still believe that when it comes to political propaganda, adults don’t need the government’s assistance as far as what they can watch and what they can’t watch. We are not little children. Youtube is not the government. And so-called “hate speech” is indeed against Youtube’s terms and conditions, which as a private organization, it’s free to set however it pleases. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/10 "2014-10-05T01:10:59Z")
YouTube ignores complaints. It has long been my experience that any attempt at reporting videos or individuals is ignored. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/11 "2014-10-05T01:22:12Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Youtube is not the government. And so-called “hate speech” is indeed against Youtube’s terms and conditions, which as a private organization, it’s free to set however it pleases. From Youtube: “We encourage free speech and defend everyone’s right to express unpopular points of view. But we don’t permit hate speech (speech which attacks or demeans a group based on race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, and sexual orientation/gender identity).” Using this statement as a guideline, Pro Nazi propaganda videos are allowed as long as the videos are simply _pro Nazi_. If the videos show anti Semitic speeches or other kinds of “hate speech”, they should be taken down. It is well within the realm of possibility that one could make a pro Nazi or pro KKK video _without_ anti Semitic attacks. I believe that your average adult can handle watching pro Nazi, KKK or ISIL videos and see for themselves just how ignorant these people are. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/12 "2014-10-05T01:25:36Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > From Youtube: “We encourage free speech and defend everyone’s right to express unpopular points of view. But we don’t permit hate speech (speech which attacks or demeans a group based on race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, and sexual orientation/gender identity).” > > Using this statement as a guideline, Pro Nazi propaganda videos are allowed as long as the videos are simply _pro Nazi_. If the videos show anti Semitic speeches or other kinds of “hate speech”, they should be taken down. It is well within the realm of possibility that one could make a pro Nazi or pro KKK video _without_ anti Semitic attacks. I’d agree with that interpretation of their T&C. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/13 "2014-10-05T01:30:37Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I’ve just stumbled across a bunch of pro-Nazi videos on Youtube. I presume this must violate some sort of policy or registration agreement. But I don’t see any “report this video” button to hit. To complain about a video I don’t like, I usually hobble around, pumping my arms up and down, like Amos Mcoy yelling "consarn it, darn that danged ol’ video. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/14 "2014-10-05T01:41:15Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > YouTube ignores complaints. It has long been my experience that any attempt at reporting videos or individuals is ignored. This is true. Often the only time Youtube considers taking a video down is when the Mainstream Media is notified of an offensive video currently being shown on their site. They also take down video when threatened by lawyers over copyrighted materials. As far as lone complaints from individual viewers, _forget about it_. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/15 "2014-10-05T01:57:23Z")
Not only what others said, but it’s possible that there’s a threshold number the complaints must reach before someone looks at it. That is, if a video gets one complaint or 100 or 500 or some percentage of the views, they don’t, they can’t, they wouldn’t have time. But if it gets 1000 complaints, or maybe 10% of the views or something like that, then someone looks at it. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/16 "2014-10-06T02:01:37Z")
We had another Thread about this and, if I recall correctly, to get a YouTube video taken down you’re supposed to call Prince and tell him about it then he’ll have YouTube take it down. ---
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/17 "2014-10-07T18:39:02Z")
Clicking on report should yield a small box with radio buttons for the different problems a video could have, along with submit and cancel buttons. At least it did the last time I reported a video. If you’re not seeing this, then read on. First of all, did you reload the page after disabling adblock? Once the page is drawn/loaded, blocked elements are gone no matter what you do … until you reload the page\* Try visiting that page in IE (assuming you haven’t tinkered with it’s settings overly much), or you could try launching firefox in “no add-ons” mode (I’m not sure if this is still a supported feature in current versions). Alternatively, it could be some temporary issue with the sites coding. Try again later. - on some sites liking, or replying to, a comment, video or whatever will trigger a page reload/redraw. In firefox, youtube does not reload just from clicking the vote up/down links. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/18 "2014-10-07T19:42:42Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > This is true. Often the only time Youtube considers taking a video down is when the Mainstream Media is notified of an offensive video currently being shown on their site. They also take down video when threatened by lawyers over copyrighted materials. As far as lone complaints from individual viewers, _forget about it_. They must, in fact, follow complaints quite closely because porn is mostly nowhere to be found on youtube, and it would be all over the place if it wasn’t strictly controled. They might not follow up on the kind of complaints you or people you know have, but this absence of porn is for me an obvious evidence that they pay attention to complaints. Any internet service where people can freely upload content (photo blogs, for instance) is otherwise filled with it. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/19 "2014-10-07T19:58:35Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > We had another Thread about this and, if I recall correctly, to get a YouTube video taken down you’re supposed to call Prince and tell him about it then he’ll have YouTube take it down. Who’s Prince? The singer? ---
**Author:** ![Vashbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Vashbul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vashbul)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418/20 "2014-10-08T06:42:55Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > They must, in fact, follow complaints quite closely because porn is mostly nowhere to be found on youtube, and it would be all over the place if it wasn’t strictly controlled. I’m only guessing here, but I assumed there was some sort of porn filter at YouTube HQ that looks for certain characteristics in images, or words in descriptions, and flags any that might be violations of their terms. That still means someone has to screen them and make a judgement call, and that could take a lot of time and effort. Still, results seem to indicate they have something going besides waiting for a rush of complaints. Not that anyone here has access to YouTube’s secret protocols, but it seems doable. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-complain-about-youtube-video/700418.md?page=2)