What Does Spam Mean on YouTube?
If you've ever gotten an unwanted mass email or text message from someone you didn't know, or a comment on a website or blog that contained sexual or other inappropriate content, then you have been the victim of spam. Unfortunately for nearly anyone who uses the internet, this type of unwanted attention to your email, website or social profile does happen from time to time -- even on YouTube. Within the video sharing platform, spam can take a number of different forms.
Other People Are Reading
-
Video Comments
-
When you have a YouTube Channel and post videos, people who see the video have the opportunity to comment on them. Unfortunately, sometimes people comment too often or post disparaging remarks that you would rather not have visible to other people who see your video. If you're the person who uploaded the video (or you're in charge of the channel) you have some options if someone has posted a comment that you believe is spam. To take action on a spam comment, log in to your YouTube account, locate the video with the disparaging comment, then hover your cursor over the comment. That will display a menu that includes a box titled "Reply." Click the drop-down menu next to "Reply," then select "Remove" to remove the comment all together, or "Flag for Spam." Since people who comment within the YouTube platform are required to sign in, when you click "Flag for Spam," that person will be reported to YouTube for posting inappropriate content. If it happens often, that person may be removed from YouTube.
Other Options for Video Comments
-
Another option to control spam within your own video content is to set your comment settings, to make it so only comments that you approve are put on your YouTube videos. To do this, click "Edit Info" from your My Videos list, then click "Settings," and then change the settings under "Comments." Be sure to click "Save Changes" before you leave the video page.
-
Content Spam
-
Someone else's channel may also be a source of spam. According to YouTube, spam can take the form of "descriptions, tags, titles or thumbnails" that trick you into watching it. Someone may create a video that has a description, tag and even a thumbnail that make the video look like it's going to be about something, and when you watch it, it's about something completely different. This is not tolerated by YouTube, and if you report it, that person may be removed from YouTube. You can report the matter by clicking the "flag" icon under the video.
Inbox Spam
-
Much like what you may sometimes get in your email inbox, your YouTube channel inbox can also be the victim of mass mailings or unwanted messages advertising inappropriate materials. If you get a message that appears to be inappropriate, do not follow any of the links in the message. From the inbox folder that displays all of your incoming messages, click "mark as spam." This reports the matter to YouTube, which may take action on the sender.
-
References
- Photo Credit Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images
