In the past, several YouTubers have been called out for misusing their platform by uploading questionable content. For instance, an Indian YouTuber who received major backlash for his ‘Kissing Prank’ video apologized and deleted it from the platform, or how another set of YouTubers got arrested by Bengaluru Police for dressing up as ghosts and pranking people at night.
Recently, a verified Twitter account named ‘Youth Against Rape’ shared a compilation of videos in which many Indian women were showed to be wrongly touched, groped, hugged, and made sexual comments on, in various public places. Such videos have gained popularity with millions of views and subscribers on YouTube, wherein women are sexually harassed in the name of a ‘prank video’, News18 reports.
The best part is that we Indians, love their content and make sure they cross millions of views for such entertainment! Don't you think everyone will turn to make more such content now? So, who's at fault?@NCWIndia @rsprasad #CensorPranks pic.twitter.com/337QeeDXd4
— Youth Against Rape ® (@yaifoundations) March 10, 2021
Responding to the complaint thread of tweets, the National Commission of Women (NCW) chairperson promised to “take it up with YouTube” and the cyber cell.
Will take it up with @YouTube https://t.co/GRRPkBUVwu
— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) March 10, 2021
Also taken up with the cyber cell. https://t.co/44Xo1kRNaz
— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) March 10, 2021
Responding to it, many people commented on the need of the hour to weed out digital content like this:
Regulating YouTube is need of an hour.
— No idea who (@serialchillerr_) March 10, 2021
Touching or kissing without consent isn't the norm or acceptable in West either. We aren't holier than anyone else. Some of these women in the videos are willing participants. Although the crude/lewd behavior is disgusting, they have a ready audience waiting to boost viewership.
— Deepti (@MeDamselDee) March 10, 2021
After some users pointed out that some of these videos are staged, people raised the point of how it still sends out a very wrong message on violating the consent of women:
Please do it. Even if the women involved are informed and the act is scripted, it sets out a message that violating consent in the name of ‘prank’ is justified. Please ensure urgent intervention and remedial measures.
— आनन्द प्रकाश चौधरी (@AnandPr96234220) March 10, 2021
Replying to the comment, YouTube India wrote:
Jumping in – if you haven’t already, you can flag/report the video here: https://t.co/29HDn2UnGX. We have a dedicated YouTube staff working 24/7 to review content that might violate our guidelines. Tweet back @ us if needed.
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) March 10, 2021
As per The Economic Times, a YouTube spokesperson said in an email, “We consistently remove content that violates our Community Guidelines. For example, per our violent or graphic content policy, we remove content involving sexual or physical attacks. We also have strict policies prohibiting harassment on YouTube and terminate any channel that repeatedly or egregiously violates those policies.”
The issue has been red-flagged for several years now, yet the videos go undetected. Have you come across such ‘prank’ videos? Tell us!