Weekly News Post #24

Amos Yee

Amos Yee, a Youtuber, recently has his channel terminated after he allegedly posting a video in which he defended paedophilia. Yee's account was removed for a violation of the platforms guidelines: YouTube's guidelines state that "we are very sensitive to any harmful or dangerous content that involves minors". When approached by the BBC YouTube declined to explain why the account was removed. Yee's views which he expressed in other YouTube videos, have previously troubled him, and landed him in prison twice in Singapore. After these incidents, Yee successfully was granted asylum in the US. Amos Yee said that he was asked to leave his previous accommodation because of his views on paedophilia. According to the South China Morning Post, his channel had at least 40,000 subscribers. In a Facebook post, Amos Yee, said his "YouTube channel and all the videos there have been completely taken down because of my views defending paedophilia"

Although his video has been taken down, Yee is still adamant in defending his view. He has published a blog called "Studies Supporting Pedophilia". In the blog, Yee gives a summary on numerous studies into sexual relationships between adults and children. The meta-analysis reviewed numerous international studies; in the hopes to share his view that paedophilia is in fact beneficial. According to the blog, one study found that the long term affects of the crime is grossly over exaggerated. However, numerous sources (including the Abramson Smith Waldsmith site) cite long term psychological problems such as depression, PTSD, academic problems, and even results in suicide can stem from child abuse and paedophilia.

Statistics in England and Wales

In my eyes, the termination of the account was the best option in this case, as Yee's video could have influenced other people to which they'd adopt the same toxic view. Anyone easily influenced could have taken his views as facts, rather than absured opinions; Yee could have easily caused harm to vulnerable children through his message if the wrong people where to have seen this video and acted upon Yee's words. According to Channel 4, in 2012/2013, there was a total of 23,663 sexual offences against children in the UK- 6,296 of these were rapes. According to Today the Ministry of Social and Family Development investigated 107 allegations of child sexual abuse in 2016, and increase form the 56 cases in 2014 in Singapore. These statistics show there is an international problem with paedophilia and sexual abuse against children. Paedophilia is inhumane, no one should prey on children who are extremely vulnerable, and under developed. Not only does this cause physical harm, but also psychological harm to victims.


Reference;
BBC News. (2018). 'Paedophilia-defending' YouTuber has channel removed. Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44039616. Last accessed 8th May 2018.