YouTube Payola: Is Anyone Paying for Views?

YouTube has always been very clear about the separation of editorial content and sponsored ads on its site: While the site is eager to sell advertising, placements as “featured” or “promoted” videos–incredibly valuable, high-traffic spots on the homepage–are not for sale. The “featured” and “promoted” videos on the homepage are chosen by editorial criteria, and, in theory, are not influenced by who is spending money to advertise. Or are they?

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This is a section of the AllThingsD Web site featuring posts that have been curated from around the Web: pieces we’ve read, discussions we’ve followed, stuff we like. Five posts are included here each weekday, but only the headline and the first two sentences. We link to the original site for the rest. The section is explicitly labeled, so it’s clear that content comes “from other Web sites.”

We also solicit original full-length posts and accept some unsolicited submissions. Voices is edited by Beth Callaghan.

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