A tycoon game “about building a corporate business around legal marijuana” appears to have been blacklisted on social media. Weedcraft Inc, which launched yesterday, has been banned from featuring in adverts on Facebook, and YouTube videos about the game are reportedly being demonetised.
Last night, publisher Devolver Digital’s PR representative, Stephanie Tinsley, tweeted to says that despite the fact that the tycoon game “features no illegal drug use or violence,” it had “been banned from Facebook & YT vids are being demonetised.” Tinsely also takes aim at what she describes as “hypocrisy,” stating that “you can post ads for whatever shooty shooterman murder simulator [with] no problem.”
In a statement to Venturebeat, a YouTube spokesperson said that videos were being demonetised because the game falls under the site’s drugs and dangerous produces or substances policy. That states that “video content that promotes or features the sale, use, or abuse of illegal drugs, regulated drugs or substances, or other dangerous products is not suitable for advertising.”
Conversely, however, it also says that “videos discussing drugs or dangerous substances for educational, documentary, and artistic purposes are generally suitable for advertising, so long as drug use or substance abuse is not graphic or glorified.” Weedcraft might be treading a slightly fine line in respect to the latter half of that statement, but I’d say there’s a definite argument around the artistic portrayal, particularly if an influencer is posting commentary rather than raw footage.
So Weedcraft, a game about building a corporate business around legal marijuana, features no illegal drug use or violence, but has just been banned from Facebook & YT vids are being demonetized.
But you can post ads for whatever shooty shooterman murder simulator w/ no problem. pic.twitter.com/3lfl9fi0Re
— Qai Qai’s J. Jenkins (@AgentTinsley) April 11, 2019
Facebook’s policies are a little more stringent, stating that “ads must not promote the sale or use of illegal, prescription or recreational drugs.” While Weedcraft Inc might not directly feature drug use, I’d say it’s certainly implied, making Facebook’s argument a little more clear cut.
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All of this ignores the real tragedy, however, and that’s Weedcraft Inc’s release date. The game came out on April 11, and while I’m sure there were circumstances that made that the only viable option, I’ll never forgive Devolver for not releasing the game on April 20 instead.