It has recently come to light that popular website 'YouTube' is restricting content for no apparent reason, other than the creators are LGBTQ+.

'Restricted mode' as YouTube calls it is an optional setting which allows users to filter out potentially explicit content. As YouTube puts it,

'You can use YouTube restricted mode to help screen out potentially objectionable content that you may prefer not to see or don't want others in your family to see on YouTube. We use community flagging, age-restrictions, and other signals to identify and filter out potentially inappropriate content. Restricted mode is available in all languages, but due to potential cultural sensitivities, the quality may vary'

How, we ask, can LGBTQ+ content, designed to help young people with understanding who they are, be deemed 'objectionable' or inappropriate?

The suicide prevention resource centre estimated that 30-40% of LGBTQ+ youth have attempted suicide. A major potential factor in this is that being LGBTQ+ is stigmatised and information is not readily available as it should be. One of the only places LGBTQ youth can obtain support is YouTube and its content creators who make videos about being LGBTQ and how there should be nothing to be ashamed of.

So, surely, young people not being able to access the help and encouragement they need is allot more 'objectionable' than the videos themselves.

This seriously needs to be ammended, so we urge you to take the time to sign this petition. Thank you