YouTube Comments Changes Spark Petition For Privacy
YouTube comments have taken a very different turn as of late, and the users generally hate it. How can we tell? There is a petition going around, asking YouTube to change them back, and it’s gained momentum.
Google sparked complaints of privacy invasion when they forced a change on YouTube to cause all comments to be posted on personal Google Plus accounts. A lot of YouTube users who just wanted to keep their profiles private are taking offense to this. However, it could reduce the amount of “trolling” we receive for uploaded videos if fake accounts are forced into the public eye.
“Trolling” is when a user leaves a comment intended to anger others, usually using an account with no identifying information.
It has been a while in the making, it seems, because not too long ago everybody with a YouTube account was forced to log in through a Google Plus account. This required many users to choose whether they used a normal YouTube user name or their actual name before they could even interact.
YouTube comments have changed dramatically since Google forced the merging of the two services, even to the point where you can’t reply to comments unless you agree to post your reply on Google Plus.
A petition has been underway for just a few days, asking Google to change it back. Not everyone wants to leave their comments on Google Plus as the 20,000 signatures have already pointed out.
YouTube flips the switch on its new conversation-style comment system powered by Google+ http://t.co/WUb45EN4I6
— Faris Razif (@FarisRazif) November 6, 2013
John Doe of Arlington, Texas, was the creator of this petition, which has led to suspended accounts just for talking about it.
One positive aspect about the new YouTube comments change is that you will only see the top rated comments, as well as those from people you know, major YouTube personalities, and the creator of the video, so “trolling” could see a significant decline.
Creator John Doe stated in the petition for privacy:
“Google is forcing us to make [Google Plus] accounts and invading our social life to comment on a YouTube video and trying to take away our anonymous profile. … New information has been brought to me by one of the supporters of this petition that their account was [suspended] by Google for telling people about this [petition]. Just another reason to sign this [petition]. If you want to spread this [petition] around YouTube, make sure to do it on a [separate] account because others have told me people have been suspended for [sharing] this [petition] with others.”
If you are unhappy with the changes, you can click here and sign the petition.
While Google may have good intentions, the latest change to YouTube comments has angered a lot of people. Are you one of them?
