When YouTube users stopped in Russia from monetizing their clips after invasion of Ukraine, George Kavanosyan, Moscow-based environmental expert with 60,000 followers on Platform switch To its domestic equivalent, RuTube.
However, as the Kremlin tightened its grip over online informationis becoming increasingly frustrated with the video-sharing site, owned by media division of Russian state-owned gas giant Gazprom.
“The first The video you uploaded was moderated for “Two to three days,” Kavanosian, 35, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, adding that by the time it was approved it “has lost its relevance.”
was established in 2006, RuTube is one of several Russians social media Platforms that have experienced a boom in users since Moscow escalated its long-running dispute with big technology in Trying to control the inner narrative over that it invasion of Ukraine.
with russian media Closely dominated by state outlets follow Kremlin lines web traditionally presented a space for Opposition voices and open debates.
Russia blames the West of spread out false information about the invasionwhich you callspecial Operation “Disarmament of Ukraine, restricted access To Twitter, Facebook and Instagram since sending its troops over the border.
YouTube may soon She suffers the same fate as she is under increasing pressure from Russia’s state communications regulator.
Although there is nothing mentioned policy on foreign substitution social mediaThe government Promise tax breaks and preferential loans for Local IT companies and employees can get files military The service is postponed.
Politicians are also encourage users to switch to local service providers.
New sites, sad users
This has reinforced new and existing domestic competitors, who critics say hey more pliant about compliance with removal requests content or help authorities with information.
“This is really about government seeking to own more And more complete control over The information received by her compatriots ”, said Alina Polyakova, who Heads the center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), a Washington-based think tank.
RuTube has been downloaded around 1.4 million times on Russia App Store and Google Play in 40 days after Russia invaded Ukraine, up more from 2000% on In the previous period, according to data analytics firm Sensor Tower.
VKontakte, Facebook-like location that already Take control of the Russians marketsaw 14% jump in active users in Walks, with social Telegram and OK . networks also suffer 23% and 6% growth Respectively, according to Brand Analytics Monitor.
Instagram alternative Fiesta has reached #1 on Russia app store .in the end of March and the latest arrivals in The space It is Rossgram, another version of Instagram.
Parody blackA white alternative called Grustnogram, which translates to Sadgram, has also He went live in Recent weeks, inviting users to post sad pictures of To express their grief over the loss of American platform.
after china
Russia is not alone in In an effort to strengthen a local Internet ecosystem.
Countries including China and India have built replace apps And social media Existing platforms more It can be easily controlled by government.
In China, the ban of Google and Facebook helped launch WeChat to become the country leading digital a program.
with the so-called great The firewall blocks many western platforms and local sites such as Baidu search engine and Twitter-like However, Weibo has succeeded in establishing its dominance critics Point out They are closely monitored and closely monitored.
In India, after failing to control content posted on Twitter , government Actively promoted an alternative named Koo, which says proud now more from twice The largest number of users like its competitor in the United States in Country.
Josh’s short video app launched just days after government Chinese TikTok banned in 2020, he claims to own more More than 150 million users.
social problems
However, analysts say it may take some time for Russia catch up with China in terms of local care social media ecosystem, as for some of Its domestic platforms are long way from becoming viable alternatives to their well-established counterparts.
The launch of Rossgram has been hampered by delays, and the arrival of RuTube in Russia is still a small part of who – which of youtube by numbers announced By the CEO of the Russian company and from market research groups.
RuTube said it strives to protect users from “fake information” and “disinformation,” adding that moderation processes are taking longer than usual due to the increased burden. on Location and legal more stringent requirements on credibility of information. “
Rosgram didn’t do it right away reply to order for comment.
careful of Oversight, monitoring and possible consequences of They speak their minds, and some content creators They avoid local sites.
“I don’t see any point in newly created russianlanguage services. It is unlikely that I will be able to speak freely on said Alexander Kim, 40-yearA human rights activist on YouTube.
Mikhail Klimarev director of Internet Protection Association, Russia digital rights groupHe said users fear that what is acceptable to the authorities today may become illegal tomorrow. leading for their platforms with poor fellow content.
“Producing quality takes some courage content that attract users. and users also need The courage to give feedback to content creators,” He said.
“Likes and writes comments… is just Dangerous ” added.
It may be Russian platforms also face logistical challenges Where sanctions hinder ability yes computer Devices are like servers support in addition to growthhe is added.
‘abyss of Advertising
Meanwhile, many in Russia has turned to VPNs to keep accessing blocked sites, despite Moscow’s attempts to block service providers.
However, access to independent and dissenting voices is becoming increasingly difficult.
Some of the measures taken by the West tech companies in The response to the war, such as stopping YouTube monetization, backfired, punishing Kremlin supporters and independents content Both generators, said the video creator Kafanossian.
YouTube stops monetizing videos for users in Russia in March, as global anger over The conflict in Ukraine escalated and Western sanctions began to impose banking business challenges in Russia.
ban of liquefaction hit Many independent editorial offices, journalists, bloggers, and made It is almost impossible to create new journalist or media Kavanosian said.
Klimarev from Russia digital group حقوق rights also urge tech giants Like Google and Apple to provide technologies in Russia that encrypts Internet traffic and thwarts attempts to block it content.
“Closure down Blocking the Internet is Putin’s weapon.
“When you turn off the internet for Regular users, you engage them in the abyss of Putin’s propaganda added.
When YouTube users stopped in Russia from monetizing their clips after invasion of Ukraine, George Kavanosyan, Moscow-based environmental expert with 60,000 followers on Platform switch To its domestic equivalent, RuTube.
However, as the Kremlin tightened its grip over online informationis becoming increasingly frustrated with the video-sharing site, owned by media division of Russian state-owned gas giant Gazprom.
“The first The video you uploaded was moderated for “Two to three days,” Kavanosian, 35, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, adding that by the time it was approved it “has lost its relevance.”
was established in 2006, RuTube is one of several Russians social media Platforms that have experienced a boom in users since Moscow escalated its long-running dispute with big technology in Trying to control the inner narrative over that it invasion of Ukraine.
with russian media Closely dominated by state outlets follow Kremlin lines web traditionally presented a space for Opposition voices and open debates.
Russia blames the West of spread out false information about the invasionwhich you callspecial Operation “Disarmament of Ukraine, restricted access To Twitter, Facebook and Instagram since sending its troops over the border.
YouTube may soon She suffers the same fate as she is under increasing pressure from Russia’s state communications regulator.
Although there is nothing mentioned policy on foreign substitution social mediaThe government Promise tax breaks and preferential loans for Local IT companies and employees can get files military The service is postponed.
Politicians are also encourage users to switch to local service providers.
New sites, sad users
This has reinforced new and existing domestic competitors, who critics say hey more pliant about compliance with removal requests content or help authorities with information.
“This is really about government seeking to own more And more complete control over The information received by her compatriots ”, said Alina Polyakova, who Heads the center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), a Washington-based think tank.
RuTube has been downloaded around 1.4 million times on Russia App Store and Google Play in 40 days after Russia invaded Ukraine, up more from 2000% on In the previous period, according to data analytics firm Sensor Tower.
VKontakte, Facebook-like location that already Take control of the Russians marketsaw 14% jump in active users in Walks, with social Telegram and OK . networks also suffer 23% and 6% growth Respectively, according to Brand Analytics Monitor.
Instagram alternative Fiesta has reached #1 on Russia app store .in the end of March and the latest arrivals in The space It is Rossgram, another version of Instagram.
Parody blackA white alternative called Grustnogram, which translates to Sadgram, has also He went live in Recent weeks, inviting users to post sad pictures of To express their grief over the loss of American platform.
after china
Russia is not alone in In an effort to strengthen a local Internet ecosystem.
Countries including China and India have built replace apps And social media Existing platforms more It can be easily controlled by government.
In China, the ban of Google and Facebook helped launch WeChat to become the country leading digital a program.
with the so-called great The firewall blocks many western platforms and local sites such as Baidu search engine and Twitter-like However, Weibo has succeeded in establishing its dominance critics Point out They are closely monitored and closely monitored.
In India, after failing to control content posted on Twitter , government Actively promoted an alternative named Koo, which says proud now more from twice The largest number of users like its competitor in the United States in Country.
Josh’s short video app launched just days after government Chinese TikTok banned in 2020, he claims to own more More than 150 million users.
social problems
However, analysts say it may take some time for Russia catch up with China in terms of local care social media ecosystem, as for some of Its domestic platforms are long way from becoming viable alternatives to their well-established counterparts.
The launch of Rossgram has been hampered by delays, and the arrival of RuTube in Russia is still a small part of who – which of youtube by numbers announced By the CEO of the Russian company and from market research groups.
RuTube said it strives to protect users from “fake information” and “disinformation,” adding that moderation processes are taking longer than usual due to the increased burden. on Location and legal more stringent requirements on credibility of information. “
Rosgram didn’t do it right away reply to order for comment.
careful of Oversight, monitoring and possible consequences of They speak their minds, and some content creators They avoid local sites.
“I don’t see any point in newly created russianlanguage services. It is unlikely that I will be able to speak freely on said Alexander Kim, 40-yearA human rights activist on YouTube.
Mikhail Klimarev director of Internet Protection Association, Russia digital rights groupHe said users fear that what is acceptable to the authorities today may become illegal tomorrow. leading for their platforms with poor fellow content.
“Producing quality takes some courage content that attract users. and users also need The courage to give feedback to content creators,” He said.
“Likes and writes comments… is just Dangerous ” added.
It may be Russian platforms also face logistical challenges Where sanctions hinder ability yes computer Devices are like servers support in addition to growthhe is added.
‘abyss of Advertising
Meanwhile, many in Russia has turned to VPNs to keep accessing blocked sites, despite Moscow’s attempts to block service providers.
However, access to independent and dissenting voices is becoming increasingly difficult.
Some of the measures taken by the West tech companies in The response to the war, such as stopping YouTube monetization, backfired, punishing Kremlin supporters and independents content Both generators, said the video creator Kafanossian.
YouTube stops monetizing videos for users in Russia in March, as global anger over The conflict in Ukraine escalated and Western sanctions began to impose banking business challenges in Russia.
ban of liquefaction hit Many independent editorial offices, journalists, bloggers, and made It is almost impossible to create new journalist or media Kavanosian said.
Klimarev from Russia digital group حقوق rights also urge tech giants Like Google and Apple to provide technologies in Russia that encrypts Internet traffic and thwarts attempts to block it content.
“Closure down Blocking the Internet is Putin’s weapon.
“When you turn off the internet for Regular users, you engage them in the abyss of Putin’s propaganda added.