For this assignment I decided to discuss how the Leviathan enforces norms within Internet spaces. One online space with an active Leviathan and several norms that I frequently visit is Youtube. Video content on Youtube involves various subject matters, including amateur music to funny pet videos to the classic man getting hit in groin by football. I know that I go on to Youtube expecting to find anything. Well, almost anything. The content on Youtube videos is relatively clean. There is no pornography, illegal acts, or even inappropriate speech throughout the site. Considering the scope and incredible size of Youtube, it is astounding how these norms are learned and widely enforced.
Foremost, in order to establish norms on the site, Youtube has a Help link on the homepage that answers practically any question a new user would have. There is an entire section on what is acceptable within the “Youtube Community.” If a new user does not take the initiative to read this listed set of norms, the intention of Youtube is clear just by observing the site. The home page has a listing of featured videos and the most popular videos of the day, all of which have relatively clean content. There is even a function to search videos by category – notice there is no pornography category, or a graphic violence category.
Next, let’s see how the Leviathan enforces these well constructed norms on Youtube. Wallace describes the Leviathan, as it exists on the Internet, as a type of authority figure, “one to which most people willingly give up freedoms in order to preserve the value and energy of the medium itself.” We can think of the Leviathan on Youtube as a moderator that does not step in until absolutely needed. Although Youtube administrators can and do search through videos to make sure there are no content violations, this system of norm enforcement relies heavily on users themselves. Users must flag videos they deem inappropriate, which sends a notification to administrators. These administrators then review the video and decide to either take it down or leave it. They can even ban someone from the website for life if the video is deemed as harassment.
Finally, why does this system work? Why is this Leviathan successful on Youtube, when it relies mostly on users flagging content themselves? According to Wallace, “[T]he Leviathan is there anyway because we want the Internet to flourish.” Basically, the Leviathan works because we want it to work. We want to continue using Youtube for what it was intended, sharing creative works, without having to run into vulgar content at every corner. I thought it was interesting that video content guidelines were listed as rules for the “Youtube Community.” Youtube has established a space that people feel like members of, a space that we want to remain usable. I for one am glad that Youtube has remained a fun video forum and has not turned into just a site to post porn – I know now that most of that has to do with the Leviathan.
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3 comments:
Hi Eden. I enjoyed your blog about Youtube because in addition to feeling similarly, I think that your blog truly illustrates the power of a social contract and a Leviathan authority figure. Given Youtube’s size and scope, as you state clearly in the beginning of your blog, it is amazing that it is not flooded with inappropriate material. The Leviathan that upholds constructed norms on Youtube consist of administrators, who can remove videos if they are in violation of Youtube standards, but more so the users themselves, who must notify the Youtube administrators if they encounter a video that is inappropriate. Though the ultimate power rests in the administrators, it is clear, then that the social standards on Youtube are upheld by the users themselves. As you conclude, the strength of the Leviathan to uphold social norms rests solely on the users, who are determined to keep Youtube running. And this is a great example of the Leviathan as necessary for a social contract.
Eden,
I think you made some great points in your post. Although the YouTube administrators act as the authority figures with the capabilities to take down inappropriate videos—the individual users of YouTube are held responsible for keeping the norms in place by flagging these videos. I agree with your point that the Leviathan works because we want it to work. YouTube provides a unique opportunity for individuals to share their original videos that otherwise may not have been exposed to the public. Members understand that if they take advantage of this space and post inappropriate content, they will lose this privilege and YouTube fail to flourish. By mentioning the “YouTube Community” you touched on the fact that this group seems to be very cohesive, and I believe the various groups and contests available in the community section of this site definitely help lead to this sense of “groupness.”
Eden,
I was attracted to your blog because YouTube was another option I was considering to write about myself. I think you did a great job describing the medium and establishing the role of the Leviathan. YouTube is such a popular site, and with its open forum, it's surprising that the content that gets posted is all relatively clean. I like your explanation and I agree that the reason people do not exploit the power or features of YouTube is because they want to maintain its privileges. It is clear that the administrators have the power to delete content posted on YouTube, but this is rarely necessary because users understand these boundaries and do not want to push them.
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