14 DAY TRIAL // The petition asking Google to reverse the change they made to YouTube’s comment section has crossed the 132,000 signatures mark and it’s heading to 150,000 rapidly.
It’s only been a little over a week since the changes were implemented on YouTube, causing the site’s users to explode in anger, particularly upset about having to get a Google+ account in order to make comments on the site they love so much.
There were several reasons behind Google’s decision to change the system. A big one was the fact that the comment section on YouTube became the playing ground of bullies, people that usually like to hide their real names when slurring other people.
Another, and perhaps more important, reason was the fact that Google+ isn’t such a popular social platform and pushing YouTubers to get an account would certainly increase their numbers, while also offering a more uniform experience over Google’s services. Integration seems to be the key for Google’s future plans.
Well, people aren’t happy. They’ve commented, asked, pleaded, cursed, yelled and ultimately signed a petition in the hopes of getting back what they feel is “their site” – a place where they didn’t need another account to share a piece of their minds.
People from all over the world have signed the petition. The United States, Latvia, Germany, Australia and Russia are just the locations of the most recent people who have signed the demand for Google to return YouTube to the users.
The number grows by hundreds and every refresh of the page gives a new number, indicating that people are actively showing their support for the civil effort.
“Google is forcing us to make Google+ accounts and invading our social life to comment on a YouTube video and trying to take away our anonymous profile. They are also trying to censor us unless we share the same worldview as they do,” the message of the petition reads, basically summing up the complaints users have against the Internet giant.
Will Google change it back? Chances are slim, considering there are millions of users and not just a few hundred thousands, but there’s still hope.