Can I get in trouble for make a video trashing another Youtuber?

Purely Peña

Purely Peña

I've Got It
Okay so here is the deal, I have a cyber bully who happens to be a Youtuber. I have been begged by a lot of my subscribers to make a video exposing them. I will not be claiming anything that is not true, so I don't think I could get in trouble for that. Mainly my concern is, I do not want my channel taken down by YT for exposing someone and exposing the truth. What is okay to expose on someone? Their name? or should I keep them as "anonymous or give them a fake name"? Is it okay to name call? Is it okay to use colorful analogies? lol. Basically, if I want to expose someone, how much can I get away with, without having my channel taken down or getting a lawsuit?

Obviously, I will not be exposing their personal info... Just talking about the things they did to me, and how I feel about them.
 
I already posted something similar on the forum, but not sure if anyone will see it. Anyway, I have a youtuber who has been harassing me, and I would really like to make a video exposing them, also because they have been doing this to other Youtubers, and I have been begged by many subscribers to do this video. I just want to know how far I can go without getting in trouble, getting a lawsuit, or getting my channel taken down? I won't say their personal information, but don't know if I should include their Youtube name? Or keep it completely anonymous? I am for sure doing this video, it is just... how much do I want to say? I could block them and never think about them again in my life but... that wouldn't be good for views. Just keeping it honest. Let me know what you all think!
 
I am not an expert at all but theoretically he/she can sue you for anything which you said about him/her and he/she can prove it is not factually true (for smearing campaign for example). He/she can sue you for online bullying also and so on. I mean it all depends on the person - but if you know each other real identities or you can find them - by attacking him you kind of giving yourself in his hands (my personal opinion).

We had once a problem with another youtuber but we fixed it by contacting the appropriate authorities. The problem was solved in very fast and efficient way. :)
 
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From YouTube's help page... in short, yes, you could get into a lot of trouble and should have been reporting them:


Harassment and cyberbullying
We want you to use YouTube without fear of being subjected to malicious harassment. In cases where harassment crosses the line into a malicious attack it can be reported and will be removed. In other cases, users may be mildly annoying or petty and should simply be ignored.

Harassment may include :

  • Abusive videos, comments, messages
  • Revealing someone’s personal information
  • Maliciously recording someone without their consent
  • Deliberately posting content in order to humiliate someone
  • Making hurtful and negative comments/videos about another person
  • Unwanted sexualization, which encompasses sexual harassment or sexual bullying in any form
Tips and advice :

  • Pause before you post: Think seriously about how you may be perceived online and do not post anything that may compromise your reputation or safety.
  • Speak up: Tell friends to stop cyberbullying and voice your opinion against cyberbullying when you see it on the site.
  • Tell an adult if you remain concerned about another’s actions towards you online.
  • Try deleting comments and blocking the user if another user is bothering you, so they can't view your videos or leave more comments. You can also turn comments off for any video or manage comments by requiring pre-approval before they get posted.
  • Respect people’s opinions online but know when it crosses the line. We want YouTube to be a dynamic and expressive platform but we do not want users to feel intimidated or threatened.
  • Report harassing users and content via YouTube’s reporting tool.
 
well... That takes all the fun out of it! Just kidding, anyway, I am still very much making the video, but will most likely keep her info anonymous (create a fake name) and stick to just the facts (with snapshots) that I will discuss, where I will also black out her Youtube name. boo :-([DOUBLEPOST=1461211208,1461210981][/DOUBLEPOST]What if I made up a fake name for her that is basically her name, just change a letter here and there? For example, what if her name is Maria Patterson, and I change it to Daria Panderson? Could I still technically get in trouble for that?
 
Even if you keep it anonymous, that won't change that the video itself is still being created in order to humiliate someone and that it is making hurtful and negative comments/videos about another person.

If you use screen grabs, it'll make it that much more obvious who you're referring to, but, since you clearly have common fans, many will likely already know.

That you're choosing to go through with it (instead of following the recommended advice) shows that you're main concern isn't fear of YouTube taking your channel down... just don't be too surprised if/ when your video gets reported and YouTube drops you.
 
hmmm... I definitely don't want that. What if I didn't bash or speak ill of them, what if I just spoke to the facts? If the facts make her look bad, well they are facts... not much you can do about that. And maybe I can read out the messages she sent me instead of using screen grabs? And of course, not use her name? I really want to make this video, and a lot of people do too. It could be good for views/subscribers.
 
As I've already stated (and is clearly written on YouTube's site):

The video itself is still being created in order to humiliate someone and that it is making hurtful and negative comments/videos about another person.​

It's not difficult to delete comments or block/ report harassing users, but you seem set on going against the clear set rules and retaliating instead. Sad.
 
Shakycow said:
As I've already stated (and is clearly written on YouTube's site):

The video itself is still being created in order to humiliate someone and that it is making hurtful and negative comments/videos about another person.​

It's not difficult to delete comments or block/ report harassing users, but you seem set on going against the clear set rules and retaliating instead. Sad.
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The thing is, a lot of youtubers make videos about other youtubers that does not necessarily show them in a positive light, and their videos are fine as in they do not get taken down. Maybe I can just tone it down and not name call, or say what their name is, or not show the screen grabs? Maybe just talk in general like "a person was bullying me about my subscriber count and view count, and this is how it makes me feel"... like something like that?
 
Public Defamation is a serious thing. A lot of YouTubers do it though. I highly doubt she would even waste the money to take you to court over it.
 
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