r/canadaleft • u/emslo • 1d ago

Suggestions to counteract right-wing YouTube content?

I have a friend from Taiwan who is constantly sending me these videos he comes across online. They are usually from unaffiliated, very conservative content producers or YouTubers, none of which I've ever heard of. Most are about Trudeau, MAID, street violence, immigration, and other inflammatory topics. "Is this true???" he'll often ask.

I have told him to be wary of his sources, and tried to direct him to other sources like Democracy Now. But he really seems to be draw to these very fiery, sensational talk-heads videos of podcasters and hosts presenting "gotcha" statistics. So the Walrus isn't exactly a good substitution.

Can anyone direct me to some more informed, reliable and progressive content producers? Even YouTubers and the kind of 'hot takes' clips he's drawn to?

Thank you

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u/Peanut-Extra First Electoral Reform, then Communism 1d ago edited 1d ago

Every platform, including Reddit, is designed to steer you toward pro-capitalist content (ads/right-wing)

No matter what you search for, the algorithms push narratives that support capitalism, promoting consumerism, profit, including 'hot takes', 'street violence', etc.

It makes sense because why would a platform promote content that challenges its own existence? If left-wing, anti-capitalist ideas gained widespread understanding, it would in theory alone hurt them, never mind in practice.

I think what you're really asking is how to get your friend to question the mechanics of what they're being presented and think beyond the status quo. The truth is, it's incredibly difficult if they’re not open to it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0svPNu9rQpE

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u/2manyhounds Nationalize that Ass 15h ago

Ironically modern day Germany is a capitalist country responsible for imperialism & vicious exploitation of the global south as well.

It’s interesting how the slightly more liberal countries like Canada & Germany will hold up the US as an example of why we’re better in order to obfuscate our own crimes

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u/Peanut-Extra First Electoral Reform, then Communism 6h ago

agree with you and some more. The purposes of the video was to hopefully help OP and others nudge their friends in the right direction when consuming media. These same critical questions can be applied to non-us propaganda as well.

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u/emslo 15h ago

I’ve already done a lot of educating, but I think we also need to have alternatives. He says he’s not getting news from the videos, mostly entertainment. But he doesn’t realize the effect it is having on him. 

So I would like to offer him engaging alternatives.  

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u/holidayz-jpg 11h ago

Rachel Gilmore & https://youtube.com/@the_goose_media have been very good lately

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u/emslo 7h ago

Awesome, thank you!

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u/JonoLith 9h ago

I will shamelessly promote myself. TheCanadianCommie.com I livestream 6-9pm EST Tuesdays. Bless.