When Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos entered the Senate workplace constructing on Tuesday, he received thrown a curveball. What began as a typical antitrust listening to referring to the Warner Bros. merger rapidly devolved right into a performative Republican attack concerning the unfold of “woke” ideology on the streaming service. On the similar time, arguably a way more influential platform was fully ignored: YouTube.
After grilling Sarandos about residual funds, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) launched into a very completely different line of questioning: “Why is it that a lot of Netflix content material for kids promotes a transgender ideology?” Hawley requested, making an unsubstantiated declare that “virtually half” of the platform’s youngsters’s content material incorporates so-called “transgender ideology.” The assertion harkened to a stress marketing campaign launched by Elon Musk months in the past wherein he known as on X users to unsubscribe from Netflix for having a “transgender woke agenda,” citing its few reveals with trans characters — reveals that have been canceled years in the past.
“Our enterprise intent is to entertain the world,” Sarandos replied. “It isn’t to have a political agenda.” Nonetheless, different Republican lawmakers, together with Sens. Ashley Moody (R-FL) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO), piled on, citing a submit Netflix made following the homicide of George Floyd, and the French movie Cuties, which sparked a right-wing firestorm years in the past. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) even requested Sarandos what he thought about Billie Eilish’s “nobody is prohibited on stolen land” remark on the Grammys. It appeared like they have been greedy at straws to help their narrative that Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. might in some way poison the properly of content material for viewers.
“My concern is that you just don’t share my values or these of many different American dad and mom, and also you need america authorities to will let you grow to be one of many largest — if not the most important — streaming monopolist on this planet,” Hawley mentioned. “I feel we must be involved about what content material you’re selling.”
Whereas it’s true that Netflix will management a considerable portion of the streaming market when — and or if — it acquires Warner Bros. and its streaming service HBO Max, it’s laborious to criticize Netflix with out citing YouTube.
“YouTube is not only cat movies anymore. YouTube is TV.”
For years now, Netflix has been attempting to topple YouTube because the most-watched streaming service. Data from Nielsen says Netflix made up 9 % of whole TV and streaming viewing within the US in December 2025, whereas Warner Bros. Discovery’s companies made up 1.4 %. Combining the 2 doesn’t even stack as much as YouTube, which held a 12.7 % share of viewership throughout that point. “YouTube is not only cat movies anymore,” Sarandos instructed the subcommittee. “YouTube is TV.”
Not like Netflix, YouTube is free and has an ever-growing library of user-created content material that doesn’t require it to spend billions of {dollars} in manufacturing prices and licensing charges. YouTube doesn’t have to fret about sustaining subscribers, as anybody with entry to an online browser or telephone can open up and watch YouTube. The setup brings YouTube a relentless stream of viewers that it might rope in with a slew of content material it might suggest to observe subsequent.
However not all creators on YouTube are striving for high quality. As my colleague Mia Sato wrote, YouTube is dwelling to creators who attempt to feed an algorithm that reinforces inflammatory content material and makes an attempt to hook viewers, along with an array of movies that could be less than ideal for teenagers.
Prefer it or not, YouTube is the dominant streamer, with an infinite provide of probably offensive agendas for almost anybody. However for some purpose, it’s not the goal of this tradition battle. If these lawmakers truly cared about what their youngsters are watching, perhaps they’d begin wanting extra intently at how YouTube prioritizes content material. Or, in the event that they don’t just like the reveals and films on Netflix, they might simply do what Sarandos prompt throughout the listening to: unsubscribe.
