Content Availability Differences on YouTube Worldwide

YouTube is no longer just a random platform that you sporadically employ. On the contrary, over time, it has become such a crucial part of people’s lives that it seems as if hardly anyone today can ever go through their day without playing their favorite videos on this site.

That’s because its selection of videos is so admirable. You can listen to someone’s discography, watch interviews with celebrities, tutorials, trailers for movies and TV shows, game streams, funny videos of animals, and so much more.

The options are truly endless. But does it mean that everyone has access to the exact same content? Whether you believe it or not, each country comes with different content, and something that you can see in yours may be inaccessible in the other.

Sounds unbelievable, right? Many people were surprised by this fact, and if you’d like to know more about the content availability across the globe, then stay tuned because this guide will further explore this topic!

Not Everything Is As It Appears To Be!

At first glance, the vast majority of people would think that YouTube is nothing but a typical platform, a huge library that’s equally accessible to everybody. Well, this isn’t exactly the truth. Even though it may not be immediately visible, it’s actually full of limitations, licenses, algorithms, and policies that impact the content you’ll be watching.

One of YouTube’s goals is to recommend videos that are more suitable for your location. For example, if you live in the UK, you will most likely be suggested videos from the UK’s creators on your homepage.

The same goes for any other country. In these instances, you have the option to choose whether you’ll watch their content or not. But sometimes, that option won’t be available. So, what does it mean?

It means that you simply won’t be allowed to watch particular content that’s from other countries, which can be pretty frustrating, right? You’ll easily conclude that because you’ll get the message that a certain video is not available in your country.

And at times (which is even worse), you won’t be able to watch entire channels, not just a single video. How awful, right? Thankfully, there’s a solution to this problem, and it lies in YouTube VPN, which many people utilize to easily access anything they want to. With this tool, you’ll be capable of accessing this platform regardless of your location and whether your country blocks this content or not. It’s definitely worth a try!

What’s The Reason Behind This Content Availability?

If you’ve been wondering why this website’s content differs so much, depending on your location, don’t worry, you’re not the only one! Lots of people are puzzled by this! There are several reasons behind it.

The main one is related to the licensing and copyright agreements. So, what does it mean? It means that certain record labels, TV networks, and others are permitted to distribute their videos only in specific regions.

For example, let’s say a singer from Spain releases a video that’s intended solely for their country and the entire Europe, but not other countries that are outside this continent. If that’s the case, then the rest of the world won’t have access to it.

Of course, this musician would first need to notify YouTube not to allow others outside their country/continent to see anything they publish. That’s one of the reasons why sometimes you cannot listen to someone’s songs, or even their entire discography. It’s because you are in a so-called restricted area.

And Then There Are Local Laws And Government Rules & Regulations

Each country comes with different rules in terms of YouTube content, and this platform is obligated to adhere to them. For instance, there are countries that do not permit any videos that are related to certain aspects of religion.

On the other hand, some do not allow any content that negatively comments on their government. These are just some examples, but the point is that there are specific rules that (from certain countries) that YouTube must comply with, whether it likes it or not.

At Times It’s Up To The Creators

In some cases, you aren’t able to see certain content because its creator decided not to allow it. YouTube gives them the option to decide if they want their videos to be accessible worldwide or not, or whether they want to restrict them to particular regions.

Monetization Rules

Here’s another factor that influences the content variety on this platform. Namely, its business model has become heavily reliant on advertising, but it doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to see every ad out there.

For instance, if a certain brand decides not to pay for views in certain countries, then there’s a chance its content might not be shown in these areas.

The Most Common Examples Of Content Differences

Have you noticed while you were traveling that the videos shown on YouTube aren’t the same in the country you traveled to in comparison to your home country? If the answer is yes, then you should know that it’s a completely normal occurrence. 

For example, music videos that you can watch in Italy may not be accessible in Japan, and vice versa. The most common cause behind this is the licensing disputes with music rights organizations.

In addition, popular leagues, such as the NFL, Premier League, and others, are very strict when it comes to this, meaning that they do not allow everyone to see their highlights. In some countries, you’ll be able to see the entire content, while in others, only short clips.

The situation is pretty similar to the game publishers. Some of them simply do not want certain countries to see their gameplay before the game is launched. This isn’t the case with all of them, nor does it happen all the time, but it does occur occasionally.

Does The Algorithm Make Any Impact?

The answer is yes. Even when particular content isn’t blocked in your region, you still may not see it, only because of the algorithm. It’s going to suggest videos based on the country you live in, and also based on the videos you previously (frequently) watched. 

For instance, if you live in India, then you will probably be flooded by Bollywood-related content. In contrast, if you reside in the United States, then you’ll be suggested videos that are related to the viral trends, American pop culture, etc.

How Does All Of This Affect Creators?

The reality is that creators are impacted by these differences in both positive and negative ways. A good thing about it lies in the fact that by virtue of these restrictions, they can monetize their content more efficiently, and shift all their focus to the markets that can be potentially very profitable for them.

For instance, a filmmaker might license their movie in the country they live in, while simultaneously earning money on YouTube in other parts of the world. Now, the most obvious drawback as far as this is concerned is the global reach.

Creators who are aiming to be famous internationally, and, concurrently, expand their followers base will definitely be negatively affected by this. That’s because they will struggle a lot if various policies and licensing prevent their videos from being seen in other regions.

The bottom line is that certain creators will need to improvise a little bit in order to maximize their earnings and exposure.

What About Viewers?

Those who are familiar with these restrictions and who spend a lot of time on YouTube will probably tell you that these differences have greatly influenced their overall experience and that they aren’t exactly satisfied with them.

Because, at the end of the day, why is someone able to watch almost any type of content, from all across the globe, and yet, there are those who can only access videos from their country and its surroundings?

That surely doesn’t sound fair, right? And the truth is that it is indeed a bit unfair, because you cannot punish someone for being born in a particular country. All of these restrictions are especially awful for avid sports lovers because they aren’t allowed to watch certain sports live streams due to their location, which is extremely nerve-wracking, for sure.

Should There Be Any Barriers?

It all depends on who you ask. Those who are against them will tell you that the entire internet, including this platform, is supposed to be about getting rid of all the virtual barriers and enabling people to freely enjoy any type of content, without any restrictions.

But what some of you must keep in mind is that there are still certain laws and regulations in different parts of the world that YouTube must adhere to, whether we like to admit it or not, and that, as long as they exist, online barriers will continue to be present, as well!

Unfortunately, even in the virtual landscape, on a wonderful platform like YouTube, you can come across specific rules and limitations that aren’t very easy to embrace. But on a more positive note, there are tools that you can turn to that can help you bypass them.