Strategic Mullets

All sites that depend heavily on users to create content, from YouTube to MySpace, run a risk: While it's an efficient way to generate tons of traffic, advertisers are wary of associating with what the rabble produces. This has led to many sites employing what is being called "The Mullet Strategy," according to Buzzfeed, as in "business in the front, party in the back." Sites like YouTube, Facebook and even CNN.com are relying on professional editors to keep a clean fa??ade on the home page while an anything-goes battle-royale rages in the comments section of interior pages.

As reported on College Candy: Tricky web companies let us users have control of the site because duh, we produce the traffic, but they choose to keep their front page clean and appearing professional to keep their advertisers happy, so when Pepsi or some other corporate sponsor comes a-knockin, they’re satisfied to see their pretty little ad in a pretty little box on a pretty big webpage, with no 14-year old comment clutter nearby screeching ‘Yo GuRL! GiMme yo ASL BaYbEE! DaT Nu YouNg WeezY vId Wizzeak! LyKE Yo Pix u SeXii! fReind me thnx!’.