#YouTubeAM is an online movement, that started with these 4 Armenian YouTubers
In addition, mentioned about an idea of starting a movement to create Armenian YouTube, and specifically – local, Armenian Trends. Then encouraged people to create action to tell YouTube to add Armenia to Trends and localised domain .am
After the movement started to get attention, Sayat made more videos on his channel promoting the movement and was interviewed by Armenian newspaper Aravot.am about #YouTubeAM. Then he created the Change.Org petition, which by the time of writing, passed 6000 signatures. Furthermore, Feka told Armenian celebrity Garik Papoyan about the movement, who shared on his facebook page. Feka also contacted Samvel Martirosyan, Member of Internet Governance Council of Armenia who passed the message to the First Deputy Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies of the Republic of Armenia. On his streaming channel Feka Live with 35,000 subscribers, he encouraged all to support the movement, spread the word using #YouTubeAM hashtag and add it to their videos.
|
Mick first went to Google UK office, then to YouTube Space London office, where he was interviewed about Armenian YouTube. Learning that it is YouTube US headquarter responsibility to add Armenia to their location list, he decided to email YouTube support, call YouTube Ads team, create posts on YouTube forums, tweet at YouTube as well as famous Armenian celebrities who would help spreading the cause.
imicca even attended VidCon London event where he met a panel of senior YouTube employees, informing them about adding Armenia to the YouTube country list. During same VidCon, imicca was interviewed by Deutsche Welle news agency as well as VidCon team.
In his post he suggested creating a team to deal with creation of .am domain for Armenia and afterwards think about how we deal with monetisation and taxation. Within minutes, the Minister replied and within hours (perhaps coincidentally) one of his videos received a notification informing that it was featured in AM Trending section.
Then the IT Minister created a team, and asked followers on his facebook page who is interested in joining said team to deal with creation of YouTube.am. Ruben's own large audience helped reaching the Minister and creating dedicated team through his open letter. |
What is happening now?
imicca currently is in talks with YouTube and Google employees regarding YouTube.am and when it will be possible to open for Armenia. imicca was also invited to Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies of the Republic of Armenia where he spoke with government officials on March 14, 2019.
Following the next day, imicca was invited to Armenian Internet Society meeting, along with Samvel Martirosyan, Vahan Hovsepyan, Internet Society Vice-President Grigori Saghyan, Deputy Minister and president of Internet Society Gegham Vardanyan, PayX co-founder Beniamin Tadevosyan and few others. There was also another YouTuber at the meeting, owner of "Официальные Трейлеры" Russian YouTube channel. The work team has been created and is headed by Samvel Martirosyan and we await news what next steps the Ministry will decide to create Armenian local YouTube platform. So far what we know is that Armenia will try to make contact with YouTube using governmental mechanisms, and will try to attract YouTube decision makers for upcoming WCIT conference later in 2019.
Of course, I would like to mention that even though the 4 of us started the movement, many Armenian YouTubers also joined us, publishing videos and social media posts with #YouTubeAM, showing their support.
Update: February 14, 2020
A new movement called #iLoveYouTube_AM (or #iLoveYouTubeAM) was launched by YouTuber REPAT RIARCH who encouraged others to "review-bomb" YouTube app reviews on Google Play and Apple AppStore. With this he hoped that YouTube would pay attention seeing so many negative reviews with same description. Unfortunately, this was not enough and many Armenian YouTubers did not help this cause.
Following the next day, imicca was invited to Armenian Internet Society meeting, along with Samvel Martirosyan, Vahan Hovsepyan, Internet Society Vice-President Grigori Saghyan, Deputy Minister and president of Internet Society Gegham Vardanyan, PayX co-founder Beniamin Tadevosyan and few others. There was also another YouTuber at the meeting, owner of "Официальные Трейлеры" Russian YouTube channel. The work team has been created and is headed by Samvel Martirosyan and we await news what next steps the Ministry will decide to create Armenian local YouTube platform. So far what we know is that Armenia will try to make contact with YouTube using governmental mechanisms, and will try to attract YouTube decision makers for upcoming WCIT conference later in 2019.
Of course, I would like to mention that even though the 4 of us started the movement, many Armenian YouTubers also joined us, publishing videos and social media posts with #YouTubeAM, showing their support.
Update: February 14, 2020
A new movement called #iLoveYouTube_AM (or #iLoveYouTubeAM) was launched by YouTuber REPAT RIARCH who encouraged others to "review-bomb" YouTube app reviews on Google Play and Apple AppStore. With this he hoped that YouTube would pay attention seeing so many negative reviews with same description. Unfortunately, this was not enough and many Armenian YouTubers did not help this cause.