Elsagate - Revision history

Bananabot: Added archive URLs for 24 citation(s) using CRWCitationBot

2026-02-23T04:27:39Z

Added archive URLs for 24 citation(s) using CRWCitationBot

JodyBruchonFan: /* Version 3 - 'AIgate' (2023 - Present) */ Perhaps not "neglected", see Talk:Elsagate#In_fairness_to_YouTube.

2026-02-14T20:34:36Z

Version 3 - 'AIgate' (2023 - Present): Perhaps not "neglected", see Talk:Elsagate#In_fairness_to_YouTube.

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:34, 14 February 2026
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	Some of these channels will label that the content is not intended for children, however, they neglect to leave these content warnings outside of the comment section.<ref name=":5" /><!-- 5:15 in the video. Be careful watching, I actually dry heaved during this video. --> Due to the mixture of paranoia from previous Elsagate-type incidents and a difficulty to control the kids app,<ref name=":6">{{Cite web \|last=That_Commission \|date=1 Jun 2021 \|title=Parental controls are a terrible way of monitoring what you kid does on the internet. \|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/unpopularopinion/comments/npv5vs/parental_controls_are_a_terrible_way_of/ \|access-date=23 Jun 2025 \|website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web \|last=C. \|first=Michael \|date=27 Sep 2020 \|title=I want to allow ONLY specific YouTube Channel(s) on my child's browser or app \|url=https://support.google.com/youtubekids/thread/73612494?hl=en#redirected=true \|access-date=23 Jun 2020 \|website=[[Google]] Support}}</ref> parents have lost trust in [[YouTube Kids]],<ref name=":8">{{Cite web \|last=Ok-Counter-7077 \|date=2 Jul 2022 \|title=Anyone else hate YouTube kids? \|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/vq12fz/anyone_else_hate_youtube_kids/ \|access-date=23 Jun 2025 \|website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> meaning they are at risk of accidentally showing this traumatizing content to their own children.		Some of these channels will label that the content is not intended for children, however, they neglect to leave these content warnings outside of the comment section.<ref name=":5" /><!-- 5:15 in the video. Be careful watching, I actually dry heaved during this video. --> Due to the mixture of paranoia from previous Elsagate-type incidents and a difficulty to control the kids app,<ref name=":6">{{Cite web \|last=That_Commission \|date=1 Jun 2021 \|title=Parental controls are a terrible way of monitoring what you kid does on the internet. \|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/unpopularopinion/comments/npv5vs/parental_controls_are_a_terrible_way_of/ \|access-date=23 Jun 2025 \|website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web \|last=C. \|first=Michael \|date=27 Sep 2020 \|title=I want to allow ONLY specific YouTube Channel(s) on my child's browser or app \|url=https://support.google.com/youtubekids/thread/73612494?hl=en#redirected=true \|access-date=23 Jun 2020 \|website=[[Google]] Support}}</ref> parents have lost trust in [[YouTube Kids]],<ref name=":8">{{Cite web \|last=Ok-Counter-7077 \|date=2 Jul 2022 \|title=Anyone else hate YouTube kids? \|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/vq12fz/anyone_else_hate_youtube_kids/ \|access-date=23 Jun 2025 \|website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> meaning they are at risk of accidentally showing this traumatizing content to their own children.

	Despite the excess in disturbing content, both YouTube and its parent company Google have ~~neglected~~ to stop the proliferation of this content on its platform.		Despite the excess in disturbing content, both YouTube and its parent company Google have not managed to stop the proliferation of this content on its platform.

	==Consumer response<!--Needs a LOT more elaboration here, will handle later.-->==		==Consumer response<!--Needs a LOT more elaboration here, will handle later.-->==

Bythmusters: added cargo

2026-02-02T19:14:37Z

added cargo

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			{{IncidentCargo
			\|Company=YouTube, TikTok
			\|StartDate=2016
			\|EndDate=
			\|Status=
			\|ProductLine=
			\|Product=YouTube, TikTok
			\|ArticleType=
			\|Type=Safety
			\|Description=
			}}
	'''{{Wplink\|Elsagate}}''' refers to a type of incident where malicious content creators are left unrestrained to publish illicit content that is targeted towards minors. Residing among video platforms such as [[YouTube]] and [[TikTok]], millions of minors have been left affected by the negligence of the companies that maintain them. ’Elsa’, a character in the film Frozen and a part of the name, is an example of a character that can be manipulated against minors.		'''{{Wplink\|Elsagate}}''' refers to a type of incident where malicious content creators are left unrestrained to publish illicit content that is targeted towards minors. Residing among video platforms such as [[YouTube]] and [[TikTok]], millions of minors have been left affected by the negligence of the companies that maintain them. ’Elsa’, a character in the film Frozen and a part of the name, is an example of a character that can be manipulated against minors.

AnotherConsumerRightsPerson: Minor edit to my previous edit.

2025-09-08T15:19:01Z

Minor edit to my previous edit.

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	'''{{Wplink\|Elsagate}}''' refers to a type of incident where malicious content creators are left unrestrained to publish illicit content that is targeted towards minors. Residing among video platforms such as [[YouTube]] and [[TikTok]], millions of minors have been left affected by the negligence of the companies that maintain them. ’Elsa’, a character in the film Frozen and a part of the name, is an example of a character that can be manipulated against ~~mimors~~.		'''{{Wplink\|Elsagate}}''' refers to a type of incident where malicious content creators are left unrestrained to publish illicit content that is targeted towards minors. Residing among video platforms such as [[YouTube]] and [[TikTok]], millions of minors have been left affected by the negligence of the companies that maintain them. ’Elsa’, a character in the film Frozen and a part of the name, is an example of a character that can be manipulated against minors.

	==Background==		==Background==

AnotherConsumerRightsPerson: Added a bit of extra info in lead section.

2025-09-08T15:18:40Z

Added a bit of extra info in lead section.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:18, 8 September 2025
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	'''{{Wplink\|Elsagate}}''' refers to a type of incident where malicious content creators are left unrestrained to publish illicit content that is targeted towards minors. Residing among video platforms such as [[YouTube]] and [[TikTok]], millions of minors have been left affected by the negligence of the companies that maintain them.		'''{{Wplink\|Elsagate}}''' refers to a type of incident where malicious content creators are left unrestrained to publish illicit content that is targeted towards minors. Residing among video platforms such as [[YouTube]] and [[TikTok]], millions of minors have been left affected by the negligence of the companies that maintain them. ’Elsa’, a character in the film Frozen and a part of the name, is an example of a character that can be manipulated against mimors.

	==Background==		==Background==

JamesTDG: /* Version 2 - 'Aphmaugate' (2020 - Present) */ Explicit mention of COPPA added

2025-08-13T01:30:53Z

Version 2 - 'Aphmaugate' (2020 - Present): Explicit mention of COPPA added

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:30, 13 August 2025
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	But for now, spread the words		But for now, spread the words

	#sprunkiisdead</blockquote>~~This~~ period had also shown content created explicitly for mature audiences being automatically marked for kids against the wishes of the creator,<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Amadeo \|first=Ron \|date=5 Jul 2022 \|title=YouTube flags horror video as “for kids,” won’t let creator change rating \|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/07/youtube-flags-horror-video-as-for-kids-wont-let-creator-change-rating/ \|access-date=8 Jun 2025 \|work=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=u/davidverner \|date=5 Nov 2021 \|title=Is this actually a thing, forcing videos to YouTube Kids because it's about a cartoon series? \|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/qnq6m0/is_this_actually_a_thing_forcing_videos_to/ \|access-date=8 Jun 2025 \|website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> which harms the monetization of their content<ref>{{Cite news \|last=nuckles87 \|date=13 Jul 2023 \|title=YouTube goes after Balena Productions' Sonic Animations, Marking Them "Made For Kids" \|url=https://www.sonicstadium.org/news/fandom/youtube-goes-after-balena-productions-sonic-animations-marking-them-made-for-kids-r1145/ \|access-date=8 Jun 2025 \|work=Sonic Stadium}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=u/Muska327 \|date=9 May 2022 \|title=Looks like YouTube has it out for Sonic content now. \|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/um99om/looks_like_youtube_has_it_out_for_sonic_content/ \|access-date=8 Jun 2025 \|website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> and contributes to the harm of children.<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Parker \|first=Tom \|date=9 Jan 2020 \|title=YouTube COPPA changes result in videos with violence, gore, and strong language being labeled “made for kids” \|url=https://reclaimthenet.org/youtube-coppa-changes-violent-videos-made-for-kids \|access-date=8 Jun 2025 \|work=Reclaim The Net}}</ref>		- sprunkiisdead</blockquote>Thanks to the creation and excessive enforcement of [[COPPA]] (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) on [[YouTube]], this period had also shown content created explicitly for mature audiences being automatically marked for kids against the wishes of the creator,<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Amadeo \|first=Ron \|date=5 Jul 2022 \|title=YouTube flags horror video as “for kids,” won’t let creator change rating \|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/07/youtube-flags-horror-video-as-for-kids-wont-let-creator-change-rating/ \|access-date=8 Jun 2025 \|work=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=u/davidverner \|date=5 Nov 2021 \|title=Is this actually a thing, forcing videos to YouTube Kids because it's about a cartoon series? \|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/qnq6m0/is_this_actually_a_thing_forcing_videos_to/ \|access-date=8 Jun 2025 \|website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> which harms the monetization of their content<ref>{{Cite news \|last=nuckles87 \|date=13 Jul 2023 \|title=YouTube goes after Balena Productions' Sonic Animations, Marking Them "Made For Kids" \|url=https://www.sonicstadium.org/news/fandom/youtube-goes-after-balena-productions-sonic-animations-marking-them-made-for-kids-r1145/ \|access-date=8 Jun 2025 \|work=Sonic Stadium}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=u/Muska327 \|date=9 May 2022 \|title=Looks like YouTube has it out for Sonic content now. \|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/um99om/looks_like_youtube_has_it_out_for_sonic_content/ \|access-date=8 Jun 2025 \|website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> and contributes to the harm of children.<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Parker \|first=Tom \|date=9 Jan 2020 \|title=YouTube COPPA changes result in videos with violence, gore, and strong language being labeled “made for kids” \|url=https://reclaimthenet.org/youtube-coppa-changes-violent-videos-made-for-kids \|access-date=8 Jun 2025 \|work=Reclaim The Net}}</ref>

	==Version 3 - 'AIgate' (2023 - Present)==		==Version 3 - 'AIgate' (2023 - Present)==

Sojourna: change dates to use dd/mm/yyyy format; change raw html to call templates instead; minor changes to wording and grammar

2025-07-13T03:34:43Z

change dates to use dd/mm/yyyy format; change raw html to call templates instead; minor changes to wording and grammar

Show changes

JamesTDG: Major edits in section V2 covering Sprunki, V3 written, sources added to consumer response.

2025-06-23T12:09:20Z

Major edits in section V2 covering Sprunki, V3 written, sources added to consumer response.

Show changes

JamesTDG: Page created, to be worked on more later

2025-06-08T11:40:21Z

Page created, to be worked on more later

New page

{{Incomplete}}

'''[[wikipedia:Elsagate|Elsagate]]''' refers to a type of incident where malicious content creators are left unrestrained to publish illicit content that is targeted towards minors. Residing among video platforms such as ''[[YouTube]]'' and ''[[TikTok]]'', millions of minors have been left affected by the negligence of the companies that maintain them.

==Background==
Elsagate content is associated with mature content that is covered by a thin façade of what audiences would initially expect to be child-friendly content. The content itself takes advantage of a multitude of mediums, such as flash-style animation, stop-motion or claymation, live action footage, or most recently, [[Generative AI|AI generation]]. Most videos uploaded would take advantage of methods to take advantage of the algorithm with junk [[wikipedia:Index_term|keywords]] and [[wikipedia:Buzzword|buzzwords]] in the titles like "education" or "nursery rhymes", and the attention of children or unaware parents with bright thumbnails and recognizable characters.

==Version 1 - (2016-2017)==
The initial introduction of Elsagate content started at an unknown date, however its presence was mostly discovered by outlets such as ''The Guardian'' in 2016,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dredge |first=Stuart |date=Jun 29, 2016 |title=YouTube's latest hit: neon superheroes, giant ducks and plenty of lycra |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/29/youtube-superheroes-children-webs-tiaras |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123024539/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/29/youtube-superheroes-children-webs-tiaras |archive-date=Nov 23, 2017 |access-date=Jun 8, 2025 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> where the content was rather tame with no dialogue, only taking advantage of characters owned by large companies that would be popular among children, such as Spider-Man or Elsa. The following year, the content eventually became far more questionable, such as sexual behaviors and [[wikipedia:Scatological_humor|scatological humor]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Popper |first=Ben |date=Feb 20, 2017 |title=Adults dressed as superheroes is YouTube's new, strange, and massively popular genre |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/20/14489052/youtube-kids-videos-superheroes-disney-characters-fart-jokes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113060333/https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/20/14489052/youtube-kids-videos-superheroes-disney-characters-fart-jokes |archive-date=Nov 13, 2017 |access-date=May 8, 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Deal |first=Rachel |date=Feb 23, 2017 |title=The Ballad Of Elsa And Spiderman |url=https://www.theawl.com/2017/02/the-ballad-of-elsa-and-spiderman/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041209/https://www.theawl.com/2017/02/the-ballad-of-elsa-and-spiderman/ |archive-date=Dec 1, 2017 |access-date=May 8, 2025 |work=The Awl}}</ref>

By early 2017, the amount of channels publishing this content skyrocketed, and reports on the content were matching similar amounts of proliferation. Publications such as the ''[[BBC]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Subedar |first=Anisa |last2=Yates |first2=Will |date=Mar 27, 2017 |title=The disturbing YouTube videos that are tricking children |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-39381889 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626072502/https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-39381889 |archive-date=Jun 26, 2019 |access-date=May 8, 2025 |work=[[BBC]]}}</ref> ''CTV News'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=Mar 28, 2017 |title=Fake toons: Kids falling prey to adult parodies of popular children's shows |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/fake-toons-kids-falling-prey-to-adult-parodies-of-popular-children-s-shows-1.3344358 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327141607/https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/fake-toons-kids-falling-prey-to-adult-parodies-of-popular-children-s-shows-1.3344358 |archive-date=Mar 27, 2024 |access-date=Jun 8, 2025 |work=CTV News}}</ref> and ''[[Yahoo!]] Lifestyle''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Natasha |date=Jul 9, 2017 |title=Disturbing videos masked as kid's cartoons on YouTube |url=https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/disturbing-peppa-pig-and-pony-cartoons-on-youtue-36324432.html |access-date=Jun 8, 2025 |work=[[Yahoo]] Lifestyle}}</ref> were among many covering this, and additionally the community '''[https://www.reddit.com/r/ElsaGate/ r/ElsaGate]''<nowiki/>' on Reddit formed, focusing on documenting the excessive publishing of this content.

===Google's response===
Initial response from [[Google]]'s moderation teams were limited, only a few videos were demonetized or taken down. When users on the platform were covering the incident, rather than the moderators taking down offending channels, YouTubers faced punishment for reporting instead.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yeung |first=Alysha |date=Oct 6, 2024 |title=Aphmaugate: The Return of Elsagate |url=https://medium.com/@ayeu3251/aphmaugate-the-return-of-elsagate-91cf6d05ffad |access-date=Jun 8, 2025 |work=Medium}}</ref> Only after facing mass coverage from major news outlets on the mature depictions of child-favorite characters,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Whigham |first=Nick |date=Nov 29, 2017 |title=Parents warned to look out for disturbing ‘Elsagate’ videos |url=https://nypost.com/2017/11/29/parents-warned-to-look-out-for-disturbing-elsagate-videos/ |access-date=Jun 6, 2025 |work=New York Post}}</ref> potential investigations from the ''FBI'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Warzel |first=Charlie |date=Nov 22, 2017 |title=YouTube Has A Massive Child Exploitation Problem |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/charliewarzel/youtube-is-addressing-its-massive-child-exploitation-problem |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122212607/https://www.buzzfeed.com/charliewarzel/youtube-is-addressing-its-massive-child-exploitation-problem |archive-date=Nov 22, 2017 |access-date=Jun 6, 2025 |work=BuzzFeed}}</ref> and threats from advertisers pulling funding, did [[YouTube]] put forth measures to effectively stop the spread of this content.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brandon |first=Russel |date=Dec 8, 2017 |title=Inside Elsagate, the conspiracy-fueled war on creepy YouTube kids videos |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/8/16751206/elsagate-youtube-kids-creepy-conspiracy-theory |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413105303/https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/8/16751206/elsagate-youtube-kids-creepy-conspiracy-theory |archive-date=Apr 13, 2018 |access-date=Jun 8, 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>

Features have included the following:

* Disabling comments on videos marked 'for kids'
* Disabling "targeted" advertising on marked videos
* Loss of monetization for some marked videos

== Version 2 - 'Aphmaugate' (2020-Now) ==
In the start of the 2020s, the content resurfaced in the feeds of users, especially as the height of 'lockdown' encouraged an increase in screen time among all demographics. Compared to the previous iteration, the content would instead infringe on smaller indie intellectual properties and game franchises.<ref>{{Cite news |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |date=Mar 30, 2021 |title=Blood, Poop, and Violence: YouTube Has a Creepy Minecraft Problem |url=https://www.wired.com/story/youtube-minecraft-among-us-disturbing-videos/ |access-date=Jun 8, 2025 |work=Wired}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Hajjaji |first=Danya |date=Apr 12, 2022 |title=Violent YouTube Cartoons Exploit Children's Favorite Horror Characters |url=https://www.newsweek.com/violent-youtube-cartoons-exploit-children-favorite-horror-characters-1696854 |access-date=Jun 8, 2025 |work=Newsweek}}</ref> The content was considerably more violent and mature in nature, such as murder, abuse, and drugs.<ref name=":0" />

This period had also shown content created intended explicitly for mature audiences being automatically marked for kids against the wishes of the creator,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=Jul 5, 2022 |title=YouTube flags horror video as “for kids,” won’t let creator change rating |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/07/youtube-flags-horror-video-as-for-kids-wont-let-creator-change-rating/ |access-date=Jun 8, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/davidverner |date=Nov 5, 2021 |title=Is this actually a thing, forcing videos to YouTube Kids because it's about a cartoon series? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/qnq6m0/is_this_actually_a_thing_forcing_videos_to/ |access-date=Jun 8, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> which harms the monetization of their content<ref>{{Cite news |last=nuckles87 |date=July 13, 2023 |title=YouTube goes after Balena Productions' Sonic Animations, Marking Them "Made For Kids" |url=https://www.sonicstadium.org/news/fandom/youtube-goes-after-balena-productions-sonic-animations-marking-them-made-for-kids-r1145/ |access-date=Jun 8, 2025 |work=Sonic Stadium}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Muska327 |date=May 9, 2022 |title=Looks like YouTube has it out for Sonic content now. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/um99om/looks_like_youtube_has_it_out_for_sonic_content/ |access-date=Jun 8, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> and contributes to the harm of children.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parker |first=Tom |date=Jan 9, 2020 |title=YouTube COPPA changes result in videos with violence, gore, and strong language being labeled “made for kids” |url=https://reclaimthenet.org/youtube-coppa-changes-violent-videos-made-for-kids |access-date=Jun 8, 2025 |work=Reclaim The Net}}</ref>

== Version 3 - 'AIgate' (2023-Now) ==
{{Incomplete section}}
An offshoot of the previous version emerged with the growth of [[generative AI]], as content could be generated at a considerably high pace compared to previous incidents. This content continued the trend of disguising mature content with characters that would seem kid-friendly.

==Consumer response==
The initial response from the public of the first version of the incident was excessively negative, with users agreeing to refuse to use YouTube kids due to a lack of adequate parental controls for the content that would be shown to the user.{{Citation needed}} Version 3 has especially brought significant backlash due to the explicit nature of the videos being published and being shown to children using the platform.{{Citation needed}}

==References==
<references />