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Visiting YouTube’s comment section is enough to make anyone want to leave this planet for good. In fact, YouTube has built a reputation for harboring some of the worst internet trolls this side of 4chan. There was no easy solution on how Google planned on cleaning up YouTube’s comments, but today they announced their new plan of action and it involves, what else, but Google+.
Okay, so no surprise there. Google pulled a similar stunt back when they faced the task of cleaning up Google Play Store comments, and we’d say that it worked out pretty well for the most part. But, why Google+? Well, aside from obvious increase in foot traffic that it will bring to Google’s social network, Google+ knows more about you than just about anyone.
It’s your life’s finer details that will help Google show you first, the comments that are most “relevant” to you. This will ensure the cream — made up of your friends, famous YouTube personalities, and top voted comments — rises to the top of YouTube’s comments section, while all the other junk is buried underneath.
- Comments you care about move to the top: Posts from the videos creator will appear at the top (as they do now), along with popular personalities, “engaged” discussions about the video, and of course, people from your Google+ Circles.
- Join the conversation publicly or privately: Just like on Google+ you can start a public conversation that is seen by everyone on YouTube and Google+, or keep things viewable to only people in your Circles. Replies will be threaded, making conversations easy to follow.
- Better ways to moderate comments: YouTube creators will have new tools to review comments before they’re posted, block key words, or save time by whitelisting comments from specific users.
The new Google+ integration has already begun rolling out on the channel discussion tab, and will begin hitting actual YouTube videos later this year. With a new YouTube app hitting Android devices in November, we’d imagine Google+ integration will also find itself baked in. What do you guys think? Do you think throwing G+ at the problem is the best way at handling YouTube trolls?
I like the idea. Now many YT creators turn off the comments because they don’t want to deal with the trolling problem.
Also, is it just me or is the current comment section often confusing to follow a conversation. Normal, easily readable threads would be so much better.
Yes! The threaded comments was actually my favorite new feature! :D
no more trolling? :(
Google+ to comment on Youtube?
No thanks. I don’t want to use my real name on as my youtube account. This is getting out of control.
It seems like all of Google’s services will be routed through Google+. I cannot wait for the day when every email you send from Gmail is put on your Google+ profile as a public post; well, it probably won’t get that out of control!
No i doubt it. Lol
Although I knew it was coming, I was also against this at first. Then I traveled to YouTube’s comments section and decided extreme measure must be taken to stop the trolls that post there.
It’s ridiculous. I don’t even let my niece watch My Little Pony videos because of the junk commenters leave on there.
ESPN did this recently, but is using facebook instead.
They probably will tie it to G+ sooner or later, but in the case of YouTube it’s owned by the Goog, so I don’t see them doing the same.
No more anonymous comments is a good thing. And using your G+ account will keep people who post under multiple emails and screen-names a hard time. You can simply choose not to use YouTube. What are you worried about ? Privacy ? You shouldnt use the internet at all if youre worried about that.
Yeah, that’s rich coming from a guy posting under a pseudonym.
Exactly, lol. I love the comment section and I don’t look forward to having to post under my google+ account
I’m thinking I’ll designate one of my browsers as being for one of my pseudonyms. I’ll be logged into google with that account, and then any YouTube comments will come from the same account. I comment on youtube videos so infrequently now that I think this will hardly be a problem.
It IS getting out of control… oh well. Don’t use your real name.. I don’t.
You can go as “Publius”
Or “Norma Stitz” (say it really fast).
Create a pseudonym google+ account of course…
I have several fake “real name” accounts. Every so often Google will flag a new account as a bogus name, I just appeal and throw in single status update like, “apparently google think I’m not a real person,” and they leave me alone.
Do you think getting a second g+ account under a pseudonym is difficult now?
Trolls are everywhere, even on these fine forums Chris. Everywhere on the internet where you give someone a forum to voice THEIR opinions, there will be trolls. People think their opinions are the best and anyone elses opinion is garbage. Opinions are like A*holes and thanks to the internet everyone gets to see and smell them. lol.
It’s not opinions I have a problem. It’s lack of respect, insults, racism, biggotry and general trolling that I think is left in places like 4chan or XDA. :P
So what if you’re a self claimed racist and bigot? Will Google allow those comments to remain? Just trying to get a clear understanding. Let’s say I’m usually positive and encouraging and one day post a distasteful comment. Will that distasteful comment be removed?
Based on their terms, you will be warned repeatedly before any actual actions are taken.
“User Content and Conduct Policy…
Do not distribute content that promotes hatred or violence towards groups of people based on their race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation/gender identity…
Do not harass or bully others. Anyone using Google+ to harass or bully may have the offending content removed or be permanently banned from the site…
…Repeated violations of Google+ Pages Terms, may cause your Google+ account to be suspended or your entire Google account to be terminated, depending on the seriousness of the violation…”
True, very true. If people could come to terms with people having different opinions and letting that be ok it would be a better internet. People who arent used to having people challenge or oppose their opinions are usually the ones that are disrespectful, insulting, racist, and bigoted. I blame parents that never tell their children no. LOL
Sounds like a good idea ! I was happy when they put Disqus on most of the internet posting forums, i wouldnt mind it on YouTube either. Have they ever thought of Disqus as a primary posting client ?
I like Disqus, but it’s not really effective at weeding out the trolls. Another site I frequent uses it and it’s full of trolls. They never get banned. Irony of it is, I was wrongfully banned for a few weeks because some troll flagged me, yet they run rampant.
Just like i told Chris, im not sure there is any way to get rid of trolls, spam, sure, trolls, no. Even when logged in with a G+ account some people will still think their opinions are better than everyone elses, and some of those people get abusive.
Youtube comments… You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villany.
Apple HQ cafeteria.
Yahoo News.
CNN also plays home to the trolliest of the trolls.
Android users mostly
Not as bad as iDrones like yourself.
Sad really.
I think this is a good idea so long as there is a fair balance of constructive criticisms and friendly comments. What happens to the comments of users who don’t have a Google+ account?
Not sure if I should be happy about less trolling or scared that Google will have me using my g+ account eventually for credit cards.
Not thrilled to G+ profile everything. its giving the big G+ too much power over everything we do online
I don’t want anything tied to G+. I never use it. I just don’t like it. I don’t like the way it’s laid out.
I don’t like random people I don’t know adding me. Even if they can’t see what I’m saying, it’s just creepy.
It’s really creepy, especially when you don’t/rarely post anything.
I think the thing is, google plus still doesn’t feel like a community… Somehow even facebook still manages to maintain its’ street-cred, while youtube, the way it works and everything has continued to feel like the same place that grew out of 2005 when it felt messy but awesome, despite now being under google. Even when they can not be, people want to feel like their interactions are natural and authentic… but google makes itself out to be a utopia, and no-one can trust a utopia… I enjoy all the tools google plus has, but it really needs that community-factor. I hope that youtube lends it some of that, rather than youtube loose it.
I love the things people post on that… I really feel like Google should back off a bit
You like reading troll posts?
Some people are clever and witty other are douche bags but what you say should remain seperate form g+ imo
Oh no looks I agree with you about the witty and clever posts, but I don’t think we’ll stop seeing those good posts if it’s linked to G+.
stunts like this make me want to hate Google…”Google+, please don’t be a Facebook.”
The little kids running YouTube have apparently never heard of “stage names”. They kept bugging me to use my real name on my original music video channel. I only joined Google+ to respond to an Android developer survey. I’m guessing that social networking is something for the unemployed to do because I sure don’t have time for it.
Yeah, they tried to force us to use real names on Youtube, supposedly in an attempt to curb spam, and we see how well that worked out :P Anyway, many of us already have fake profiles set up for Youtube trolling, so I don’t see how Google+ integration is going to have an affect me that. It’s just another attempt by Google to shove + down peoples’ throats.
Now what are all the racists going to do with their spare time?
I prefer to keep those comments anonymous. because then you can be truly HONEST and not have to worry down the road about having an “opinion”. No Google+ for me thanks.