NB: This is why capitalism is a manifestation of nihilism: nothing has any ethical meaning, only profit matters. I am concerned that so many of us, including me, are dependent on YouTube, for teaching, for entertainment, for independent news channels. We users should ask those who manage YouTube to cease adding to the climate of hatred in the world. Surely you have nade enough money by now. DS
YouTube makes millions on hate speech
“The atmosphere towards immigrants is the worst it’s ever been, and people are saying they don’t know why. But we know why.”
Michael is a senior executive in the global ad industry. He has built a highly successful international career, forged relationships with glitzy clients with million-dollar advertising budgets, and managed partnerships that have made the big tech players a serious amount of money.
At the same time, he has watched with dismay as loved ones in the US have been increasingly subjected to racism and hatred, partially rooted in misinformation.
Michael believes his industry is funding such hate by allowing adverts to be placed on online content pushing racist, homophobic, or misogynistic narratives. He is part of a group of advertising insiders calling on their industry to demand change from the Big Tech firms running social media sites.
“It’s the amplification of this hateful stuff online,” he told openDemocracy, speaking under a pseudonym to protect his career. “I think as an industry, we haven’t done enough to actually hold our hands up and go: ‘Hey, we’re partially responsible here, because the fact of the matter is that if this content wasn’t making money, it would be off most of the platforms.’”
Michael and his fellow advertising whistleblowers were convened by Inside Track, a British non-profit that builds confidential peer groups of senior professionals in powerful industries to spotlight and shift harmful cultures, norms, and incentives….
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