Have YouTube Crossed the Line? I Just Watched a Vloggers Suicide Note!

I’m quite angry at the moment. Not because I just watched a suicidal man telling me he was about to end his life (he didn’t elaborate why), but because YouTube’s algorithm decided it was something I would very much enjoy and placed in my ‘recommended.’

While the title suggested it would be the man’s final vlog on the channel, there was no reason for me to think it was anything bad. I honestly thought it was just another click-bait title to attract new subscribers.

But sadly, I was wrong!

He seemed like a really nice guy. He was around the same age as me and had a strong Irish accent. Being Irish myself, he resonated straight away. But when he started telling his audience in the calmest possible way that he had already passed away, I knew he was telling the truth.

I knew he was telling the truth because my best friend took his own life and spoke in just the same way. No emotions. No stress. Just letting us know in very simplest terms that it was time for him to leave. I still have the note.

It’s quite hard to know how to feel about seeing this. It really couldn’t have been any further away from my usual interests. But yet for some unknown reason, YouTube’s algorithm had recommended it as something I might very much enjoy.

He was really popular and had around 50,000 subscribers, so you can just imagine the amount of upset it has caused the regular viewers watching his last will and testament. I hope they’re ok, but I’m sure many are devastated. I know that I would be if he was one of my favourite vloggers.

I suppose it could be argued that YouTube are in no way at fault for allowing this video to be launched. After all, how can they possibly know the content of every single video after publication. But in this particular case, I feel there is something else going on and I don't like it one bit.

In the comments section, there was message after message of YouTube users saying they had know idea why this man’s channel had appeared on their ‘recommended’ feed. Literally hundreds of people were writing condolences to a man they had never met, but for some reason had been directed to his channel by YouTubes algorithm. Why?

Well, I wish I had the answers, but I don’t. Could it be that the content has gone viral due its emotive subject matter? That the algorithmic choices of recommended users has widened by accident? If anyone knows how algorithms work at a deeper level than my current knowledge, I’d certainly be interested to find out.

While it was upsetting to watch his final vlog, I did see it through all the way to the end. His final wish was that people still continued to watch his channel and enjoy his videos. He mentioned the loving family he would leave behind, and that any donations to his channel would likely go to them for support. Then he very politely said goodbye.

Many people in the comments donated money, including people who had never watched his channel. While this was very touching to see, I’m finding it difficult to understand how this has been allowed by YouTube to continue streaming. Perhaps it’s just me, but I know if I was a family member of this man, the thought of the entire world watching a vlog of his suicide note is not something I would wish to happen. I’d love to know what people think about this, because I’m a bit lost.

May he Rest In Peace 🕊

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Originally published at https://medium.com/never-stop-writing/has-youtube-crossed-the-line-i-just-watched-a-vloggers-suicide-note-29980b3dbb63?postPublishedType=repub