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When You Can'T Tube… Impact Of A Major Youtube Outage On Rapes

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  • M. Amelia Gibbons
  • Martín A. Rossi

Abstract

On Tuesday, October 16, 2018, YouTube experienced a major and rare global service outage. Using high‐frequency crime data from the United States, we document an important increase in rapes in the 24‐hour period following the outage. We investigate various potential underlying channels that may link the YouTube outage to the subsequent observed increase in rapes. The overall evidence only supports the hypothesis that the increase in rapes was driven by an increase in pornography viewing. (JEL D91, K42, L82)

Suggested Citation

  • M. Amelia Gibbons & Martín A. Rossi, 2021. "When You Can'T Tube… Impact Of A Major Youtube Outage On Rapes," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 59(2), pages 762-775, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:59:y:2021:i:2:p:762-775
    DOI: 10.1111/ecin.12964
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media

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