Founder of YouTube channel "How Not to Turn Braindead" says the channel is under threat of takedown (updated)

Oksana Moroz, founder of the YouTube channel "How Not to Turn Braindead", says that her channel is under threat of takedown due to copyright strikes. She wrote about it on Facebook.

According to her, the channel received two strikes from Russian users on videos reviewing the animated show "Masha and the Bear".

Screenshot of the channel "How Not to Turn Braindead" by the IMI

In these videos, psychologist Kateryna Holzberg analyzes the show and points out parallels with the Russians' behavior in the war. Her words are illustrated by clips from the show. The videos are titled "'Masha and the Bear': Russian propaganda that damages childrens' psyche" and "'Masha and the Bear' vs. the Russian army. What do they have in common?"

"The channel is at 90,000 subscribers now. Four years' worth of work will be simply ruined. Telling the truth about Russians is not allowed – it's an infringement of the aggressor's copyright. YouTube being YouTube," she wrote.

Moroz added that she had already asked for help: "But if anyone knows some effective ways to handle this situation, text me, please."

In her comment to the IMI, Oksana Moroz said that they have received two strikes out of three. If they get the third strike, the channel will be taken down. The copyright strikes were sent by the producers of "Masha and the Bear".

The channel received the first warning on August 4. The video of psychologist Kateryna Holzberg explaining why the show is harmful was deleted. "For instance, she says that Masha behaves as if everything is allowed, does harmful things and faces no repercussions for it, and that this show is not good for children," she said.

Oksana Moroz adds that they illustrated all the psychological points with examples from the cartoon. "YouTube did not give us any warning. The video was deleted immediately. The notification said that now there would be no restrictions on the videos, but if you receive three strikes, and you already have one, then the channel will be taken down," the channel's founder said.

They received the second strike today, August 7. YouTube Shorts from their series "Information Hygien For Families" have been removed. In the videos, Oksana Moroz explained that the show promotes Russian propaganda, drawing on a New York Times article.

"So we have two out of three copyright strikes now. They came from the producers of 'Masha and the Bear'. And, accordingly, if there is a third strike, the channel will be blocked," said Oksana Moroz.

The author of the channel added that she contested the strike, "arguing that there was no infringement, that all this falls under fair use and rules of citation, that it is educational content."

"We'll see what happens," said Oksana Moroz.