YouTube has been hit by a scandal recently which has been around disclosure. For some time now YouTubers have started diversifying revenue streams. Key problem here is disclosure many YouTubers are one man operations. Scandal was around small group failing to disclose financial links to promoted content. Any sponsorship on content created must be displayed. YouTubers must disclose any relationships financial or otherwise on content created.

Example:

Game studio pays for your hotel, coverage, even sends you free gifts. Required to disclose that information if impacts any content created.  Review copies are something else required to disclose. Any monetary benefit they have received anything at all which indicates any biases must be disclosed. Often companies send you review copies which you then make content based on that product.

Todays scandal nothing like that…..

Couple YouTubers who had equity in companies went on to promote products from that company. Failed to disclose the relationship they had with that company.  Promoting a company they owned and help run.

Simply put these people have broken the law. Legal standpoint people have to disclose this information and if they have not they have broken the law.  Advertising without making it clear that one big no no.  Another problem is product promoted comes under gambling. Many of these YouTubers claim they done nothing wrong. Demographics of audiences who watch these videos makes it even worse from moral standpoint.  Questionable moral behaviour frankly illegal actions help damage Youtube.

No argument here time come clean about anything you done in the past.  Along with much greater transparency for your audience.  Failure to do so not only breaks the law but also ruin your relationship with the audience.  Moral of the story here is always question people intent when they make content.   Likely more scandals like this are going to happen given the structure of Youtube. Youtube should take action on this problem issuing new guidelines.