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YouTube Backlash: Hate Speech Policy Change Sparks Outrage

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06
Apr

A recent alteration to YouTube’s hate speech policy has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with LGBTQ+ advocates expressing deep concern over the removal of specific protections for transgender and nonbinary users. The modification, which involves the deletion of the phrase “gender identity and expression,” has raised fears that the platform is weakening its commitment to safeguarding vulnerable members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The change, first reported by Taylor Lorenz’s Substack newsletter User Mag, occurred between January 29 and February 6, according to archived versions of YouTube’s policy. While the company claims it was a routine “copy edit” and insists its hate speech policies remain unchanged, critics argue the removal of explicit protections for gender identity is a dangerous step backward.

“The larger implications of YouTube’s actions should concern everyone,” a GLAAD spokesperson told The Advocate. “When a company, or political leaders, decide that certain groups of people are to be seen as less than others — it too often results in real-world harm. YouTube and other platforms should be protecting LGBTQ creators and users during a time when right-wing extremists and others are seeking to harm them.”

Critics point out that this change comes amid a broader trend of erasing transgender and nonbinary identities from legal and political discourse. Advocacy groups argue that the move by YouTube could embolden those who seek to spread hate and misinformation targeting the trans community.

Longtime trans YouTube creator Samantha Lux told User Mag she’d noticed a rise in hateful rhetoric on the platform, adding “If you say that you’re protecting against gender, it’s more like you can’t discriminate against somebody for being a woman. But gender identity really zones in on the trans aspect of it.”

GLAAD’s 2024 Social Media Safety Index gave YouTube a score of just 58 out of 100, citing a lack of clear policies protecting users from targeted misgendering and deadnaming, as well as a lack of transparency around demonetization and content filtering.

The controversy underscores the ongoing battle for LGBTQ+ rights and the importance of social media platforms in creating safe and inclusive online environments. Advocates are calling on YouTube to reinstate explicit protections for gender identity and to take concrete steps to combat hate speech targeting the transgender and nonbinary community.

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Ngoc Vy

Ngoc Vy is a tech journalist specializing in artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and their societal impact. She combines technical rigor with on-the-ground coverage of Vietnam’s startup ecosystem, from AI ethics debates to gov-tech adoption. Ngoc Vy is also passionate about bridging the gender gap in STEM journalism.