I have seen recently a lot of posts from Video Vape Reviewers about YouTube giving them strikes and bans – even on really old reviews?
For instance (click on the Tweet below to read the whole thread)…
I’m at home sick with Covid and figured since @TeamYouTube is coming after my channel again it’s a good time to do a 🧵 on my 8 years of experience as a YouTuber. Sorta long, but hopefully some find it interesting…
— Matt Culley (@MattFromSMM) June 17, 2022
Also in my news article of 20th May 2022 I shared some other Tweets from exasperated reviewers on the verge of losing all of their hard work.
And just like that @TeamYouTube as you are working on the other strike, I get another strike on another video with the same reasons, that still counts as 1 but blocks me from uploading for 2 weeks? When again, every video of mine follows every rule and guideline… very depressing https://t.co/GTIfcmxAWp pic.twitter.com/JNGxONEFF3
— DJLsb Vapes (@DJLsbVapes) May 12, 2022
Hello @TeamYouTube I got a strike for a educational video. I do not sell vaping products on my channel. I have appeared and got immediately rejected within 1 minute of appeal. Which confirms no human looked over it. Can you please help me out. pic.twitter.com/yfqQtscRFS
— Mike Vapes (@Mike_Vapes) May 12, 2022
I don’t understand why I keep getting strikes for following the rules @TeamYouTube can you please help me out.
Here is my YouTube channel https://t.co/77thMqnZcm
And here is the video https://t.co/FOBPDFl0HD
I’ve already appealed and got rejected 15 seconds later by the bot. pic.twitter.com/9rcywaa6kv— Mike Vapes (@Mike_Vapes) May 27, 2022
As you can see even the “Big Guns” are being targeted – for instance Mike Vapes has 386K subscribers and Grimm Green is at 395K!
Our own FlatCap Vaper has spoken out too.
Its good to see a reviewer of your stature speak up on this. And not just from a channel perspective, but also as an individual who has done their best 2 abide 2 vague, ever-changing regulations. Its a platform we can no longer trust with our content unfortunately. Thanks Matt.
— FlatCap Vaper (@FlatCapVaper) June 17, 2022
What Has Triggered This?
This isn’t a new thing – YT seem to keep thinking of new ways to penalise reviewers – our lovely Neil H wrote about this in 2018 where CBD videos were being hammered.
It seems this new wave of YouTube strictness has come from sharing URLs (Website Addresses) of Vape companies in the video.
Ok simple enough you would think.
But when reviewers have been unboxing or showing instructions – the tiny website addresses on the packaging have now triggered YouTube to discipline them.
Can someone from @TeamYouTube please look at this video https://t.co/V0lFHMsn8L again?
I got a strike for a website on a package. The website in the package isn’t even a store, nor does it sell any products. My videos do not promote sale. They are educational videos.
Thank you pic.twitter.com/4FMtD6OWQK— DJLsb Vapes (@DJLsbVapes) May 21, 2022
Something as simple as showing a box on a review could then lead to strikes or even your whole channel and the content being deleted!
Can someone from @TeamYouTube please look at this video https://t.co/uLxk3QmsEn
I got a strike for a website on a battery door. This video is at least 2-3 years old. My videos do not promote vape products. They are educational videos.
Thank you. pic.twitter.com/WCgpQDahol— Mike Vapes (@Mike_Vapes) May 12, 2022
It’s shocking too especially for UK reviewers as vaping is legal here! It seems the mess of the US Tobacco Control regulations are impacting people who live elsewhere in the world!
Also the way YT class reviewers – they seem to be squished in with retailers and manufacturers despite not actually selling a single product themselves?
A lot of reviewers are now ditching YouTube in favour of other platforms – which I can’t blame them for.
But when you see the traffic these reviewers bring to YouTube I think the site are cutting their own noses off here.
Impact On Reviewers
Here is Grimm Green explaining what has been happening to him, he has been told some of this has been down to a glitch.
@TeamYouTube 6 years producing content for youtube, more than 600 videos. Yesterday I had the channel deleted. I had never received an alert on the channel or strike and in 21 days I received 3 strikes, including content that had been published on the channel for several years.
— Vapers Brazil (@VapersBrazil) June 10, 2022
I got 294k subs and 1500 videos past few days they give delete 3 of my videos and give me 1 strike. I sacrifice delete 70% of my old videos. And now i creating a new backup channel. Youtube Algorithm is broken. We not selling we just make reviews educating.
— AdrianLoDejavu (@Adrianlodejavu) June 12, 2022
Will be interesting to see how this pans out.
What Do YouTube Say?
I have contacted TeamYouTube on Twitter to see if they will explain what is happening.
@TeamYouTube Would you be able to explain why Vape Reviewers are getting strikes and deletes? We are writing an article on this situation and would like a statement from yourselves?
— EcigClick (@EcigClick) June 17, 2022
I will update when / if I get a response!
