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Feminism: Sex & gender discussions

question about mermaids ad on youtube

62 replies

skql · 06/10/2019 13:57

is that ad targeting for uk domestic or worldwide?

OP posts:
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LangCleg · 06/10/2019 15:48

I was about to start a thread about this.

Here is a quote complaining about Mermaids ads turning up in Minecraft videos on YouTube.

Here is a tweet about it:

twitter.com/genderisharmful/status/1180486359536095233

Here is what we think is the actual ad:



It looks like outright recruitment to me. What does everyone think?
question about mermaids ad on youtube
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ahagwearsapointybonnet · 06/10/2019 16:00

Definitely. Would be keen to hear more about what can be done to block them, if anything (I'm not very knowledgeable on advertising rules).

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ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 06/10/2019 16:01

Honestly, I'd like to see more than one screenshot from a unknown source before I believe this. Additionally, if it is true we don't know what demographics the and was aimed at - it almost certainly wasn't specifically targeted at 6 year old boys watching Minecraft videos.

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Whatisthisfuckery · 06/10/2019 16:01

Considering what Mermaids advocate for that advert is hugely inappropriate.

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TheProdigalKittensReturn · 06/10/2019 16:05

On Minecraft videos, eh? It seems unlikely to be coincidental that the most Minecraft obsessed child in my extended social circle is autistic.

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Chiochan · 06/10/2019 16:06

its massively inappropriate.

its using childrens/young peoples insecurites and need to feel special and noticed against them, to further promote and inrich this 'charity' and the people behind it.

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TheProdigalKittensReturn · 06/10/2019 16:09

It's like putting a professionally produced pro ana video on that Cosmo for young girls site, just weird and completely inappropriate.

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UndergroundOverIt · 06/10/2019 16:12

This ad popped up on a YouTube video my 11yr old son was watching today. It was on a Minecraft video by an American YouTuber called xNestorio. My son paused it and called me over - even he thought it was out of place.

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BuffaloCauliflower · 06/10/2019 16:14

I’m horrified to hear this is out there.

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TheProdigalKittensReturn · 06/10/2019 16:17

Does YT advertising work on an algorithm that tracks stuff it thinks you're interested in or do the channels decide what ads to accept?

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LangCleg · 06/10/2019 16:21

Does YT advertising work on an algorithm that tracks stuff it thinks you're interested in or do the channels decide what ads to accept?

I don't know but think I need to.

Ads so skewed as to be possibly regarded as recruitment tools should not be shown to children doing things that children do. Nor should the Big Lottery Fund be even tangentially associated.

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UnWilly · 06/10/2019 16:21

Wonder how their advert sits with the ASA rules on harmful gender stereotypes...

www.asa.org.uk/news/harmful-gender-stereotypes-in-ads-to-be-banned.html

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Hennysmommy · 06/10/2019 16:33

Whats Mermaids? I honestly dont have a clue what it is all about? Not got facebook/twitter so out of the loop with stuff.

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JoyceJeffries · 06/10/2019 16:45

Of course they have to brainwash children - it makes some of the founder members feel so much better about their batshit parenting choices.

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NeurotrashWarrior · 06/10/2019 17:07

It's like putting a professionally produced pro ana video on that Cosmo for young girls site, just weird and completely inappropriate.

Totally.

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NeurotrashWarrior · 06/10/2019 17:08

Of course they have to brainwash children - it makes some of the founder members feel so much better about their batshit parenting choices.

As well and a steady income of kids to provide the CEO with - a steady income.

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NeurotrashWarrior · 06/10/2019 17:09

Good point unwilly. Only boys play computer games obvs.

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TheAlternativeTentacle · 06/10/2019 17:25

I saw this earlier, and I must say I wasn't surprised. They used to bribe kids over to their stand with puppies and sweets.

Straight out the child catcher text book that lot.

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DuMondeB · 06/10/2019 17:29

The creator of Minecraft has been ‘cancelled’ for ‘Transphobia’ funnily enough:

www.gaystarnews.com/article/minecraft-notch-transphobic-tweets/#gs.7wnnta

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BeMoreMagdalen · 06/10/2019 18:26

Doesn't surprise me that it's a gaming themed recruitment video, either, given the large support for Mermaids in the gamer/Incel online community. It's very 'on brand'. If your brand is creepy cult trying to snare confused kids and munchymums and set them on a path of lifelong medication and experimental cosmetic surgery.

Hell of a brand, that.

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RaveOnThisCrazyFeeling · 06/10/2019 18:36

Horrible ad. Noted that both of the evil bullies depicted are girls. And the not-so-subtle suggestion of suicidal ideation, in the countdown clock where Ethan decides if Ethan 'wants to continue'.

Sinister.

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ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 06/10/2019 18:38

Does YT advertising work on an algorithm that tracks stuff it thinks you're interested in or do the channels decide what ads to accept

AFAIK, channels cannot choose their ads (though I think advert age ratings will have to be appropriate for the channel age ratings)

Adverts can be targeted by the advertiser, I don't know how finely

YouTube will also show you "relevant" ads, in the same way as Google ads elsewhere.

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SirVixofVixHall · 06/10/2019 18:42

I feel ragey now. A friend’s dd has just has her breasts amputated, although they called it the twee “top surgery”. She is 17.

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DuMondeB · 06/10/2019 18:50

That ad is like a short episode of Black Mirror.

Vix, my stepdaughter, 13, got catcalled for the first time a few weeks ago. She is now wearing two sports bras at once and talking about top surgery.
It’s beyond upsetting.

Anyone who sees this ad come up needs to hit the report button (I notice the YouTube link has comments turned off, and the number of people who have viewed it compared to the number of people who like it doesn’t paint Mermaids in a good light at all).

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NeurotrashWarrior · 06/10/2019 19:05

Oh Jesus DuMond, poor kid Sad

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