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Do not fill this in! === Recent history (2019–present) === By February 2017, one billion hours of YouTube videos were being watched every day, and 400 hours worth of videos were uploaded every minute.<ref name="1 billion hours" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Lumb |first=David |date=February 27, 2017 |title=One billion hours of YouTube are watched every day |url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/27/youtube-one-billion-hours-watched-daily/ |access-date=March 26, 2017 |website=[[Engadget]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |archive-date=May 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525081426/https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/27/youtube-one-billion-hours-watched-daily/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Two years later, the uploads had risen to more than 500 hours per minute.<ref name="500 hours per minute" /> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], when most of the world was under [[stay-at-home order]]s, usage of services like YouTube significantly increased. One data firm{{which|date=October 2022}} estimated that YouTube was accounting for 15% of all [[internet traffic]], twice its pre-pandemic level.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rouse |first=Kevin |date=June 4, 2020 |title=Rabbit Hole, episode Eight: 'We Go All' |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/04/podcasts/rabbit-hole-qanon-youtube-tiktok-virus.html |access-date=May 10, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060158/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/04/podcasts/rabbit-hole-qanon-youtube-tiktok-virus.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In response to EU officials requesting that such services reduce bandwidth as to make sure medical entities had sufficient bandwidth to share information, YouTube and [[Netflix]] stated they would reduce streaming quality for at least thirty days as to cut bandwidth use of their services by 25% to comply with the EU's request.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gold |first=Hadas |date=March 19, 2020 |title=Netflix and YouTube are slowing down in Europe to keep the internet from breaking |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/19/tech/netflix-internet-overload-eu/index.html |access-date=March 20, 2020 |publisher=[[CNN]] |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128181816/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/19/tech/netflix-internet-overload-eu/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> YouTube later announced that they would continue with this move worldwide: "We continue to work closely with governments and network operators around the globe to do our part to minimize stress on the system during this unprecedented situation."<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube is reducing the quality of videos for the next month — and it's because increased traffic amid the coronavirus outbreak is straining internet bandwidth |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-reducing-video-quality-globally-coronavirus-streaming-bandwidth-2020-3 |access-date=March 24, 2020 |work=Business Insider |archive-date=June 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615151942/https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-reducing-video-quality-globally-coronavirus-streaming-bandwidth-2020-3 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following a 2018 complaint alleging violations of the [[Children's Online Privacy Protection Act]] (COPPA),<ref>{{cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=April 9, 2018 |title=YouTube Illegally Tracks Data on Kids, Groups Claim in FTC Complaint |language=en-US |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/youtube-children-data-illegal-tracks-ftc-1202747401/ |access-date=April 27, 2018 |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608030638/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/youtube-children-data-illegal-tracks-ftc-1202747401/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the company was fined $170 million by the FTC for collecting personal information from minors under the age of 13.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mike |first=Masnick |title=FTC's Latest Fine Of YouTube Over COPPA Violations Shows That COPPA And Section 230 Are On A Collision Course |url=https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190905/17343942934/ftcs-latest-fine-youtube-over-coppa-violations-shows-that-coppa-section-230-are-collision-course.shtml |access-date=September 7, 2019 |website=Techdirt. |date=September 6, 2019 |archive-date=September 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906200850/https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190905/17343942934/ftcs-latest-fine-youtube-over-coppa-violations-shows-that-coppa-section-230-are-collision-course.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> YouTube was also ordered to create systems to increase children's privacy.<ref name="verge-coppafine">{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Makena |date=September 4, 2019 |title=Google will pay $170 million for YouTube's child privacy violations |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/4/20848949/google-ftc-youtube-child-privacy-violations-fine-170-milliion-coppa-ads |access-date=September 4, 2019 |website=The Verge |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307214341/https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/4/20848949/google-ftc-youtube-child-privacy-violations-fine-170-milliion-coppa-ads |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Fung |first=Brian |title=Google and FTC reach $170 million settlement over alleged YouTube violations of kids' privacy |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/04/tech/google-youtube-ftc-settlement/index.html |access-date=September 4, 2019 |website=[[CNN Business]] |date=September 4, 2019 |archive-date=November 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111115824/https://cnn.com/2019/09/04/tech/google-youtube-ftc-settlement/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Following criticisms of its implementation of those systems, YouTube started treating all videos designated as "made for kids" as liable under COPPA on January 6, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Matthews |first=David |date=January 6, 2020 |title=YouTube rolls out new controls aimed at controlling children's content |url=https://www.techspot.com/news/83422-youtube-rolls-out-new-controls-aimed-controlling-children.html |access-date=January 9, 2020 |work=TechSpot |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405095937/https://www.techspot.com/news/83422-youtube-rolls-out-new-controls-aimed-controlling-children.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Makena |date=December 11, 2019 |title=YouTube calls for 'more clarity' on the FTC's child privacy rules |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/11/21011229/youtube-google-coppa-ftc-creators-videos-childrens-privacy-regulations |access-date=December 11, 2019 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307214402/https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/11/21011229/youtube-google-coppa-ftc-creators-videos-childrens-privacy-regulations |url-status=live }}</ref> Joining the [[YouTube Kids]] app, the company created a supervised mode, designed more for [[Preadolescent|tweens]], in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |date=February 24, 2021 |title=YouTube New 'Supervised' Mode Will Let Parents Restrict Older Kids' Video Viewing |url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/youtube-supervised-accounts-kid-controls-1234913968/ |access-date=April 19, 2021 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316045244/https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/youtube-supervised-accounts-kid-controls-1234913968/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, to compete with [[TikTok]], YouTube released [[YouTube Shorts]], a short-form video platform. During this period, YouTube entered disputes with other tech companies. For over a year, in 2018 and 2019, no YouTube app was available for [[Amazon Fire TV|Amazon Fire]] products.<ref>{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Chris |date=April 18, 2019 |title=YouTube is finally coming back to Amazon's Fire TV devices |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/18/18412525/youtube-amazon-fire-tv-prime-video-chromecast-return-announcement |access-date=May 5, 2021 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=April 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418172012/https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/18/18412525/youtube-amazon-fire-tv-prime-video-chromecast-return-announcement |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2020, [[Roku]] removed the YouTube TV app from its streaming store after the two companies were unable to reach an agreement.<ref>{{cite web |last=Solsman |first=Joan E. |date=April 30, 2021 |title=Roku: YouTube TV app removed from channel store as deal with Google ends |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/roku-youtube-tv-app-removed-from-channel-store-as-deal-with-google-ends/ |access-date=May 5, 2021 |publisher=CNET |language=en |archive-date=May 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503094719/https://www.cnet.com/news/roku-youtube-tv-app-removed-from-channel-store-as-deal-with-google-ends/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After testing earlier in 2021, YouTube removed public display of dislike counts on videos in November 2021, claiming the reason for the removal was, based on its internal research, that users often used the dislike feature as a form of [[cyberbullying]] and [[vote brigading|brigading]].<ref name="BBC YouTube dislikes">{{cite web |date=November 12, 2021 |title=YouTube removing dislike 'discourages trolls' but 'unhelpful for users' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-59264070 |access-date=November 30, 2021 |website=BBC News |archive-date=November 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130131058/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-59264070 |url-status=live }}</ref> While some users praised the move as a way to discourage [[Internet troll|trolls]], others felt that hiding dislikes would make it harder for viewers to recognize clickbait or unhelpful videos and that other features already existed for creators to limit bullying. YouTube co-founder [[Jawed Karim]] referred to the update as "a stupid idea", and that the real reason behind the change was "not a good one, and not one that will be publicly disclosed." He felt that users' ability on a social platform to identify harmful content was essential, saying, "The process works, and there's a name for it: the [[wisdom of the crowd]]s. The process breaks when the platform interferes with it. Then, the platform invariably declines."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vincent |first1=James |date=November 17, 2021 |title=YouTube co-founder predicts 'decline' of the platform following removal of dislikes |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/17/22787080/youtube-dislikes-criticism-cofounder-jawed-karim-first-video-description-zoo |access-date=November 18, 2021 |website=The Verge |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117142742/https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/17/22787080/youtube-dislikes-criticism-cofounder-jawed-karim-first-video-description-zoo |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Binder |first1=Matt |date=November 17, 2021 |title=YouTube cofounder protests decision to remove 'dislikes' with an edit to first-ever YouTube upload |url=https://mashable.com/article/youtube-cofounder-protests-decision-to-remove-dislikes |access-date=November 18, 2021 |website=Mashable |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118000227/https://mashable.com/article/youtube-cofounder-protests-decision-to-remove-dislikes |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kan |first1=Michael |date=November 17, 2021 |title=YouTube Co-Founder Says Removing Dislike Counts Is a 'Stupid Idea' |url=https://uk.pcmag.com/social-media/137045/youtube-co-founder-says-removing-dislike-counts-is-a-stupid-idea |access-date=November 30, 2021 |website=PC Magazine |archive-date=May 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529055917/https://uk.pcmag.com/social-media/137045/youtube-co-founder-says-removing-dislike-counts-is-a-stupid-idea |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after the announcement, software developer Dmitry Selivanov created Return YouTube Dislike, an [[Open source|open-source]], third-party [[browser extension]] for [[Google Chrome|Chrome]] and [[Firefox]] that allows users to see a video's number of dislikes.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kan |first=Michael |date=November 29, 2021 |title=Browser Extension Brings Back Dislike Count to YouTube Videos |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/browser-extension-brings-back-dislike-count-to-youtube-videos |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130230749/https://www.pcmag.com/news/browser-extension-brings-back-dislike-count-to-youtube-videos |archive-date=November 30, 2021 |access-date=January 20, 2022 |work=[[PC Magazine]]}}</ref> In a letter published on January 25, 2022, by then YouTube CEO [[Susan Wojcicki]], acknowledged that removing public dislike counts was a controversial decision, but reiterated that she stands by this decision, claiming that "it reduced dislike attacks."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wojcicki |first1=Susan |date=January 25, 2022 |title=Letter from Susan: Our 2022 Priorities |url=https://blog.youtube/inside-youtube/letter-susan-our-2022-priorities/ |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=YouTube Official Blog |archive-date=October 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006154605/https://blog.youtube/inside-youtube/letter-susan-our-2022-priorities/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, YouTube launched an experiment where the company would show users who watched longer videos on TVs a long chain of short un-skippable adverts, intending to consolidate all ads into the beginning of a video. Following public outrage over the unprecedented amount of un-skippable ads, YouTube "ended" the experiment on September 19 of that year.<ref>{{cite web |last=Livemint |date=September 19, 2022 |title=YouTube ends experiment that forced users to watch large unskippable ads |url=https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/youtube-ends-experiment-that-forced-users-to-watch-large-unskippable-ads-11663572953523.html |access-date=September 21, 2022 |website=mint |language=en |archive-date=September 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921060005/https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/youtube-ends-experiment-that-forced-users-to-watch-large-unskippable-ads-11663572953523.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In October, YouTube announced that they would be rolling out customizable user handles (e.g. @[[MrBeast6000]]) in addition to channel names, which would also become channel URLs.<ref>{{cite web |last=Krasnoff |first=Barbara |author-link=Barbara Krasnoff |date=October 15, 2022 |title=How to choose your YouTube handle |url=https://www.theverge.com/23403217/youtube-handle-url-how-to |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=December 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214230354/https://www.theverge.com/23403217/youtube-handle-url-how-to |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 16, 2023, Wojcicki announced that she would step down as CEO, with [[Neal Mohan]] named as her successor. Wojcicki will take on an advisory role for Google and parent company [[Alphabet Inc.|Alphabet]].<ref name="Wojcicki steps down">{{cite web |last1=Peters |first1=Jay |last2=Roth |first2=Emma |date=January 16, 2023 |title=YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki steps down after nine years at the helm |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/16/23602759/youtube-ceo-susan-wojcicki-stepping-down-neal-mohan-google |access-date=February 16, 2023 |website=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216185547/https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/16/23602759/youtube-ceo-susan-wojcicki-stepping-down-neal-mohan-google |url-status=live}}</ref> In late October 2023, YouTube began cracking down on the use of [[ad blocker]]s on the platform. Users of ad blockers may be given a pop-up warning saying "Video player will be blocked after 3 videos". Users of ad blockers are shown a message asking them to allow ads or inviting them to subscribe to the ad-free [[YouTube Premium]] subscription plan. YouTube says that the use of ad blockers violates its terms of service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Allow ads on videos that you watch - YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/14129599?hl=en |access-date=November 9, 2023 |website=support.google.com |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109171547/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/14129599?hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dave |first=Paresh |title=YouTube's Crackdown Spurs Record Uninstalls of Ad Blockers |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/youtubes-ad-blocker-crackdown-spurs-record-uninstalls/ |access-date=November 9, 2023 |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109171547/https://www.wired.com/story/youtubes-ad-blocker-crackdown-spurs-record-uninstalls/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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