Demonetization on YouTube and the Visibility of News Produced by Non-Mainstream News Commentators

This research analyzes how the YouTube algorithm, through the phenomenon of demonetization, affects the visibility of news posted on YouTube – specifically from content creators not associated with a mainstream television network or professional online or print news publication in the United States – by employing quantitative content analysis. By analyzing the case of The Philip DeFranco Show, this research also sets out to understand how monetization and demonetization are discussed by content creators within their content. Themes of self-censorship and censorship by proxy are also investigated to help determine the effects of gatekeeping on YouTube by algorithms on news commentators. It is expected that creators will self-censor content to avoid algorithmic suppression by altering posting schedules, video formats, as well as separating topics typically suppressed by the algorithm from topics that are typically promoted.