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From: Leys Geddes
Date: 24 Sep 2009
Time: 23:15:42 -0500
Remote Name: 76.17.183.48
The British Stammering Association has been cracking down on misleading stammering treatment claims featured in advertisements, mainly on Google. Recently a lot of these snake oil salesmen have migrated to YouTube, where they seem to be allowed to make all sorts of claims, and no one is doing anything about it. Examples of these misleading videos come up if you search on YouTube for phrases such as 'stammering cure' or 'stuttering cure'. As a part of our International Stuttering Awareness Day celebrations, we are encouraging our members to take action. But, even if you are not a member of the BSA, you can still join in. To help YouTube understand that videos advertising a stammering cure should be taken down, click the 'Flag' link below the relevant video. When you click the link you get a drop down menu. The most appropriate flagging option is usually 'Spam', then choose the 'scams/fraud' option. Use this when, for example, the video is a blatant ad for a treatment for which there is no supporting data. Alternatively - or even additionally - you could post a comment on videos making doubtful claims, by simply saying, for example: "This claim is misleading. There is no instant cure for stammering (ed. or stuttering)." You might also come across videos which show bullying. In these cases you might want to flag them as "Hateful or Abusive Content. For more information, see http://www.stammering.org/adverts.html And happy hunting!