What is YouTube?
YouTube is a website and app where users can upload, view, and share videos. The site has become enormously popular over the years for its simple design and easy-to-use interface.
However, there are a few things to be worried about if you're using YouTube regularly. First of all, YouTube is owned by Google, so the company can easily change the terms of service (ToS) at any time without warning. This means that videos that were once legal could suddenly become illegal if Google decides that they no longer want them on the site.
Second of all, YouTube is a major platform for advertising revenue. So video creators who engage in inappropriate or dangerous behaviour may find their content being demonetized or deleted altogether. Finally, YouTube is constantly growing more sophisticated in terms of tracking user behaviour and monetizing it accordingly. This means that even if you're not directly monetizing your videos through ads, you may still be subject to data-sharing agreements between YouTube and third-party advertisers.
What are the risks of using YouTube?
YouTube has been around since 2005 and is one of the most popular online video platforms with billions of monthly views. However, like any other online platform, YouTube is not without its risks. Here are some of the dangers you may face if you use YouTube regularly:
1. You could be exposed to dangerous videos.
YouTube is a platform that hosts a wide variety of videos, both legitimate and dangerous. If you visit YouTube frequently, there's a chance you'll come across inappropriate or dangerous content. This includes videos that feature violent or sexual content, hate speech, or extremist content which can lead to harm or even death.
2. Your data could be stolen.
If your computer is compromised by an attacker, they might be able to access your YouTube account information as well as any private videos you've shared with friends on the platform. This includes your username (which is usually the name you use when signing in to YouTube), password, email address, and other personal information.
3. You could get hacked.
YouTube is one of the most popular targets for cyber-attacks due to its popularity and large user base. If your account is hacked, malicious individuals could gain access to your personal information including your username, password, email address, and other personal information. They could also post unauthorized comments on your videos or posts without your permission which can damage your reputation and credibility as a YouTuber.
How to protect yourself on YouTube
Looking to keep your YouTube account and videos safe from hackers, scammers, and other online threats? Here are some tips for you:
1. Sign up for a Google account: Creating a Google account will let you access all your personal information in one place, including your YouTube account. If you have more than one YouTube account, signing up for a Google account will make it easier to manage them all from one place.
2. Use strong passwords: Make sure your passwords are unique and tough to crack. Try to use letters, numbers, and symbols in your password. And don't reuse passwords across different sites.
3. Keep an eye on Circle of Trust ratings: When you sign up for a new YouTube account or make changes to an existing one, we'll send you an email notifying you of the rating change. Ratings are based on three factors: the trustworthiness of the channel owner (who set up the channel), whether they have been banned from other platforms, and whether they have been reported for violating YouTube policies (for example, using inappropriate language). Channels with high ratings are less likely to be targeted by scammers or hackers.
4. Use security features: Some security features available on YouTube include two-factor authentication (which requires both a code sent to your phone as well as logging into your YouTube account) and ad blocking (which stops ads from being displayed until you confirm that you want them).
Conclusion
YouTube is a powerful tool that can be used for entertainment, education, and more. However, like any other platform, YouTube has its own set of risks that users should be aware of. In this article, we discuss some new risks associated with YouTube and what you should be worried about. By reading this article, you'll have a better understanding of how to protect yourself from potential dangers on YouTube.