NBC News recently ran a hit piece claiming that “GunTubers” are “panicking” over YouTube’s stricter gun content policies, with some supposedly fleeing the platform.
Let’s dive into what’s really going on—and how NBC spun the facts to fit an anti-gun narrative.
Claim: GunTubers Are “Panicking” Over Policy Changes
NBC uses terms like “panicking” to describe the GunTuber community’s reaction, implying widespread chaos and fear. However, based on statements from GunTubers like Matt Carriker (Demolition Ranch) and Jon Patton (The Gun Collective), the tone is far more nuanced. They aren’t panicking; they’re frustrated by the vagueness and inconsistency in YouTube’s rules.
Matt and Jon openly discuss the challenges these new policies pose, such as limiting views on certain videos due to age restrictions and enforcing vague rules on linking to gun retailers. But they also express a willingness to adapt and stay on the platform if possible.
“Panicking” is a massive exaggeration and misrepresentation by NBC of the community’s response.
Claim: GunTubers Are Leaving YouTube En Masse
NBC claims that ‘at least four major GunTubers’ are leaving YouTube for “rival services.” While a few creators may explore alternative platforms like Rumble or Floatplane, there’s no mass exodus. The larger GunTubers, like Demolition Ranch, The Gun Collective, and Hickok45, have made it clear they’ll stay on YouTube as long as possible. YouTube remains the top platform for reaching a broad audience, and NBC failed to clarify that these creators are using alternative platforms as backups, not replacements.
Leaving Out Key Facts on YouTube’s Policy Changes
Conveniently, because of its biased reporting, NBC’s article didn’t fully explain what YouTube’s June 2024 updates actually entail or the enforcement inconsistencies.
Here’s the real story:
- Age Restrictions: YouTube added age restrictions for videos showing automatic firearms, homemade guns, and high-capacity magazines. GunTubers are adjusting to this but are not “panicking” over it.
- Policy on Links: YouTube’s updated rules prohibit creators from linking directly to sites that sell firearms, ammunition, and certain accessories. The problem, as GunTubers pointed out, isn’t the rules themselves but the vagueness and unclear enforcement. Jon Patton describes how channels are often punished based on ambiguous guidelines, causing frustration rather than panic.
NBC Connects Gun Content to Violence Without Context
NBC indirectly links GunTubers to violent incidents by mentioning the case of an individual who wore a Demolition Ranch T-shirt while allegedly attempting to harm former President Trump. This kind of connection is a tactic commonly used to paint gun content as dangerous or reckless, even though the person’s choice of clothing had no link to Matt Carriker or his channel’s content. This insinuation fuels fear and misrepresents the actual community of responsible gun owners and enthusiasts who follow these channels.
Ignoring Educational Value and Audience Demand
NBC’s coverage skips over the reality that GunTubers often provide educational content. Many viewers use YouTube to learn safe firearm handling, see reviews of legally owned firearms, and better understand their Second Amendment rights. By focusing only on sensationalized topics, NBC paints the entire GunTuber community as reckless and sensational without acknowledging the actual value they bring to their audiences.
Failing to Mention YouTube’s Acknowledgment of the Issue
YouTube has actually made an effort to communicate with some GunTubers about the recent rule changes. Jon Patton, in particular, noted that YouTube reps reached out to clarify the policy, though they left much unexplained. YouTube’s efforts to clarify the rules and its support for channels complying with the new guidelines are left out in NBC’s report. Instead, the “expert journalists” at NBC suggest a blanket crackdown with no room for creators to adapt.
Just Another FAIL by Struggling NBC News
NBC’s portrayal of GunTubers as “panicking” and leaving YouTube en masse is both misleading and unfair. By spinning facts to push an anti-gun narrative, NBC misses the mark entirely. The reality is that GunTubers are adjusting to YouTube’s evolving rules and hoping for more consistency.
They’re not abandoning ship—they’re simply voicing frustration with vague policies that impact their livelihoods.
This NBC report is a classic example of how media bias can distort a story, leaving readers with a skewed understanding of the issues at hand. GunTubers aren’t running away; they’re just trying to keep their channels alive and compliant in the face of changing (and often unclear) guidelines.
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Hey stupid. Your comment is all the proof you need that Ammoland doesn’t censor comments.
Wouldn’t be a bad idea to ban folks like you though…
Ammoland does not censor comments. Ammoland has a comment policy that we expect our readers to adhere to keep a civil and topical conversation within the comment system. Read the policy https://www.ammoland.com/ammoland-comment-policy/
Salacious stories are the trademark of NBC. It’s all they have done for decades.
“Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing.” George Orwell.
And so goes the Constitution under democrat rule.
the media doesn’t miss a chance to vilify our rights to keep and bear arms. They certainly won’t let something like the truth or facts be any hindrance to them
NBC has gone left of CNN. Nothing they publish can be trusted,nor should it be read. Now stands for Nothing But Crap.