https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CvyipXlM3M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BlVLIY83GU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC_4ks5EquQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDxfYDkMkPQ
Been wondering why BetterHelp has been sponsoring a lot of YouTubers lately? There's 9 parts as of this post but I think these first four should get you started down the rabbit hole. Here's the gist of it, YouTubers are exploiting their and their audience's mental health to make money by delivering them to BetterHelp. My major problem with this is the idea that most of these creators tend to play up their mental issues, and may get their viewers to relate to having mental issues and thus lead to the, "BetterHelp was unable to help me." people in the videos.
Also one HUGE red flag to me is in their TOS they claim that the patient isn't able to refute any misuse of their information by a counselor. If any damage is incurred by said misuse it doesn't fall upon the company, only on the patient and counselor. The TOS is worded so shadily, that Philip DeFranco has stopped plugging them until they fix their issues.
While we may try to do so from time to time, in our sole discretion, you acknowledge that we do not represent to verify, and do not guarantee the verification of, the skills, degrees, qualifications, licensure, certification, credentials, competence or background of any Counselor. It is your responsibility to conduct independent verification regarding any Counselor that provides you with Counselor Services (whether through the Platform or not) and we strongly recommend that you will conduct this verification prior to communicating with any Counselor through the Platform and on a continuous basis as you use the Platform.
This line in particular. Full Terms and Conditions here. Our Client Terms & Conditions | BetterHelp
They only allow greenlighted reviews on their site, so no one with a bad review gets posted. Also, it seems to me that a lot of this talk has been suppressed.
With the spread of the sponsorships and reportedly poor vetting spreading around the internet I'd like to get everyone's thoughts on this.
I've been looking as well for some substance on Memeology101 because its a channel that seems entirely based around the production and prodding of lolcows.
This betterhelp shit is seriously absurdly sketchy, just like Candid
It's sad to see boogie shilling a scam site that preys on the desperate, for money.
Regardless of the channel itself, whenever someone big like this shows up, its virtually never good. And just look at the ToS itself, they don't even vet their employees.
It shows up for some time being, and a ton of youtubers shill it hardcore, and then it mysteriously vanishes after fucking people over.
I noticed that as well, but there's no commentary in the video besides pointing out the weird aspects of BetterHelp and the fact that they seem to be breaking laws and or lying constantly.
From what I can tell, they can basically sell your information, and they're possibly using it in marketing
it's basically a marketing research scheme in order to target the desperate and ill
I could be wrong, this is just what I can tell so far from what I've heard and read.
it's shit and lets just say it doesn't smell like candy
Gonna start working through these. I imagine a lot of these people are jumping on because BetterHelp will actually pay them (except DSP, he's stupid)
I was sad to see Rose and Rosie on there - I actually really enjoy their channel. I've been suicidal and attempted suicide a few times, some of those attempts causing me chronic disabilities, but I don't think the YT'ers in question are just monetising without thinking about it. DeFranco has some pretty dull content on his channel, but he does a few things that lead me to believe he has a conscience.
I just wanna be careful because this is a serious topic so I'd rather we get those ducks fuckin' lined up.
Is BetterHelp really that bad? Simpleflips promotes them and he would REALLY want to know if they were sketchy.
I don't have all the answers, and I cannot claim they are "bad" the terms of service are very sketchy. Sure, it may help for some people, but for all I've seen they reject people with actual problems and elect to "help" people with lesser forms of mental issues to appear more effective than they really are. This is all from the outside looking in, and the fact that Shane's docuseries on Jake Paul came out just recently and having BH as a sponsor whilst simultaneously claiming that Jake is a possible sociopath and giving examples from many other YT'ers is very suspicious to me.
that and, imagine being fatally depressed, paying for a service, and being blown off multiple times in a row
Wait, do you mean they sell the information they gain during sessions, as in there is no real client privilege/confidentiality?
Even if they weren't for the stuff in sessions, wouldn't selling your clients list also be making it so there is no client privilege?
They vetting their psychologists, so there is no 'client privilege', and I'm mostly theorizing here. Not a legal 'reading' of it.
But effectively that yes. You give your name, address, phone etc right? That's all they need
That being said, even sites that "protect" your privacy sell your info, imagine what a site that states that it doesn't care about your privacy would do.
Aw fuck me man I thought Gus Johnson plugging these guys was bad enough I totally forgot about Simp
According to this section of their ToS the last part of article 6.
You will indemnify us, defend us, and hold us harmless from and against any and all claims, losses, causes of action, demands, liabilities, costs or expenses (including, but not limited to, litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) arising out of or relating to any of the following: (a) your access to or use of the Platform; (b) any actions made with your account or Account Access whether by you or by someone else; (c) your violation of any of the provisions of this Agreement; (d) non-payment for any of the services (including Counselor Services) which were provided through the Platform; (e) your violation of any third party right, including ,without limitation, any intellectual property right, publicity, confidentiality, property or privacy right. This clause shall survive expiration or termination of this Agreement.
Anything you give them can be used for whatever purpose they want to. Even if you no longer pay them, they can send your info around so long as you gave it to them. There's nothing in the terms protects either the counselor or the patient. Should the counselor input your info into GH's database your information is forfeit.
Its almost as if being forced to constantly keep up with demands while trying to make sure everything you make is always "New and Fresh". Pretty much bogging your mind down with stress and anxiety since one slight fuck up is all that is needed for people to throw you under the bus and call you "Outdated" or not "Good" anymore.
So, I haven't bothered watching the videos (and I don't intend to), but reading through this thread, that seems to not be what the videos are actually about.
Apparently there is a group of YouTubers who are plugging for this site / company / whatever called BetterHelp. This thread is asserting that these people are pretending to be depressed, or at the very least, are exaggerating their symptoms, as part of the plug. Ostensibly, much like companies ask that sponsors "share a personal story about using the product," BetterHelp are asking sponsors to "express their mental health problems and how BetterHelp was able to help them."
Then the thread seems to be focusing on how questionable BetterHelp actually is, with assertions that they may be exploiting the people who come to them.
If I missed anything, or got anything wrong, please feel free to correct me. I've literally never heard of this "BetterHelp" before, and I really don't care enough to watch videos on a sponsor that has never crept into the videos I personally watch. Especially if they're as shady as this thread is postulating.
That's mostly correct but it all seems to have started with a lot of YouTubers burning out around August and BetterHelp swooped in to give most if not all YouTubers with mental health issues sponsorship deals including Boogie, Shane Dawson, and H3. The service blew up just recently, from about 600,000 people to over 4,000,000 and judging by their weird ToS those people could potentially be putting all of the information they share with BetterHelp at risk. Reportedly these creators get $100 per signup, and more than likely they haven't read BH's ToS so they are unaware of how badly they could be exploiting their fans. As stated before, the ToS claims to not check on whether or not providers are qualified or not. They just hope they are qualified, and their patients' information is not entirely confidential.
Going into more detail with this.
Someone else tweeted to him about it first, I followed it up and provided some examples including the TOS.
His response?
https://i.imgur.com/wgaNAN0.png
Basically dismissing it as sensationalist garbage without looking into it further. Makes me a bit sad.
They're going to get punched in the dick by the fist of HIPAA so hard they'll taste sperm.
What a dumb response. You absolutely should always care what ToS you sign for says no matter how much you like the service.
Something along the lines of "we can profit off of you and you will never hold us responsible for any harm" is a pretty effective indicator it's a shit company that doesn't care about you as a customer, whether it be legally binding in the end or not.
I've used their services.
The woman I've met with is honestly, out of the 8 therapists I've seen in my life, probably the best one I've ever met.
She's actually helped me realize some of my goals and manage some aspects of my depression.
However learning that their TOS is so fucking terrible certainly bums me the fuck out and I'll likely be pulling away from the service shortly.
As for cost, it's more cost efficient than it is to see a therapist in the real world. Even with a doctor referal, I'd pay 115$-135$ per session with a therapist. I pay'd like 235$ for the month and I get as many sessions as I can book. So, it's not super clear cut whether they're scammy or not to me.
https://i.imgur.com/lmJeLA8.png
Well shit, I lost a bit of respect for simp there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1eVfq1PTn4
Phillip Defranco made a response to the BetterHelp controversy here (2:43 to 6:41). Note: He's one of the people paid to promote the service BetterHelp provides so obviously he is biased (which Phillip Defranco acknowledges). Make of this what you will. It could just be hollow/empty PR speak by the CEO of BetterHelp and Phillip Defranco or they could be telling the truth (i.e. improving the wording of the TOS as well as Philly D legit investigating the vetting process by BetterHelp).
advertisers betterhelp themselves to some personal information
Betterhelp seems sketchy from the absolute outset. Their adverts are physically terrifying and baity. I don't struggle with my mental health but for somebody in a vulnerable position they're marketed in such a nasty way it's super exploitative.
Yeah. I mean, Simp's a good guy, but just dismissing everything as 'keemstar bullshit' is ridiculous. I hope he at least looks into things a little more. He doesn't seem the type to purposefully plug something knowing that it could potentially harm his viewers and friends.
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