YouTube cracks down on kid-fight videos
The video-sharing site is making it easier for users to flag inappropriate videos of kids fighting. On its flagging menu, the category “minors fighting” has been replaced with a more general “youth violence” label, according to a posting on the YouTube blog.
“Now you can more easily flag violent videos that include underage people, and we’ll take it from there,” the blog says. “With 13 hours of video uploaded every minute, we need you to be our first line of defense against content that violates our Community Guidelines.” YouTube said that an increasing number of videos are showing teens in fights.
In April, eight Florida teenagers were arrested and charged with brutally beating a girl and videotaping it so they could post it on YouTube and humiliate the victim. The teens, who range from 14 to 18, are awaiting trial and could face life in prison if convicted.
The group told officials that they were seeking revenge for insults posted on the internet by the attack victim. The video released by the Polk County sheriff’s office showed the 16-year-old victim being punched, kneed and slapped. Six girls allegedly took part in the assault, while two boys served as lookouts.
Photo from Polk County sheriff’s office
