I noticed that the trailer for the fifth season of Dexter was the third most-viewed video on YouTube for two or three days in a row, then it mysteriously disappeared from all rankings, meanwhile it belongs on the most-viewed of the week ranking and likely the most-viewed today ranking. Curious. The trailer is fairly graphic, though in order to convey specific emotions. The video has gotten about 1.5 million views in five days, earning its place impressively. I did some research and I found out that this isn't the first time YouTube has censored their rankings. Take this news article from two years ago:
http://www.infowars.com/you-tube-censors-hugely-popular-question-your-reality-video/
Sure, Dexter is an (excellent) premium cable network show about a likable serial killer, and thus involves mature content. Apparently, it's become incredibly popular as it's the only video from Comic-Con to even significantly enter YouTube's rankings. Would YouTube do this to "The Sopranos" videos reaching the top rankings if the show aired a few years later? Fans wouldn't be happy if keeping the show off of top rankings was reported. If a video deserves its ranking and the video follows YouTube's rules, it shouldn't be purposely taken off. Obviously people want to see it.
I'm not sure how often YouTube has pulled a trailer for a mature TV show or movie from the top rankings list, but it takes away some of the believability of the list. Do I really want to believe America loves watching cats and stupid videos all day long? No. Seeing good movie and TV show trailers on the list fares better.
Video in question that mysteriously disappeared from rankings: (SPOILER warning, don't watch if you haven't seen the season four finale of Dexter and intend to)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUbCMbW-BRE&feature=youtube_gdata
http://www.infowars.com/you-tube-censors-hugely-popular-question-your-reality-video/
Sure, Dexter is an (excellent) premium cable network show about a likable serial killer, and thus involves mature content. Apparently, it's become incredibly popular as it's the only video from Comic-Con to even significantly enter YouTube's rankings. Would YouTube do this to "The Sopranos" videos reaching the top rankings if the show aired a few years later? Fans wouldn't be happy if keeping the show off of top rankings was reported. If a video deserves its ranking and the video follows YouTube's rules, it shouldn't be purposely taken off. Obviously people want to see it.
I'm not sure how often YouTube has pulled a trailer for a mature TV show or movie from the top rankings list, but it takes away some of the believability of the list. Do I really want to believe America loves watching cats and stupid videos all day long? No. Seeing good movie and TV show trailers on the list fares better.
Video in question that mysteriously disappeared from rankings: (SPOILER warning, don't watch if you haven't seen the season four finale of Dexter and intend to)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUbCMbW-BRE&feature=youtube_gdata