YouTube policy changes are now resulting in the removal and ban of any coronavirus content that includes misinformation, the company’s CEO indicates. That’s according to a recent interview given by YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki. Specifically, the policy relates to any information or claims that are “medically unsubstantiated.”
That falls in line with a shift that’s intended to raise information from “authoritative sources” such as the World Health Organization. Ms. Wojcicki indicates that content has seen a rise in demand of around 75-percent from the start of the year. But, in tandem with that, there’s also been an increase in misinformation.
YouTube’s response is now to simply remove videos containing misinformation while previous policies have seen most related content demonetized. Examples provided by the executive include videos claiming that people can be cured by taking vitamin C or turmeric. Neither has been proven to act as a cure according to the wider health community.
Another example of prominent videos that are being removed, she continues, are those related to 5G as an underlying cause. The policy changes, like the rise of those conspiracy theories, have had to be rapid. As a result, for the time being, Videos that contain claims in direct opposition to information provided by WHO will be removed as well.
YouTube hopes that by removing conspiracy theories and misinformation, it can help keep users better informed.
YouTube isn’t just pulling down or enforcing a ban on coronavirus-related content
Simultaneously, YouTube is working to meet the demand for content that’s legitimately helpful. Ms. Wojcicki indicates that viewers have been actively seeking out authoritative information on the topic since the outbreak began. That all kicked off with searches to discover exactly what coronavirus and COVID-19 are.
To begin with, the executive says that the company never expected to host quite so many hand-washing videos. So YouTube is working to surface those types of videos more readily, as well as oft-requested content about life under quarantine, in general. But it’s also working to promote videos that users are actively seeking out in terms of legitimate information.
Ultimately, the need to meet demand has been met by a number of campaigns. Among the most prominent of those is a recent spin-off of YouTube’s popular #withme campaign.
The company is tapping both celebrities and experts for that campaign. Content will focus on everything from taxes and financial management to more straightforward entertainment. It’s also putting a focal effort on education for teens at the high school level. Those will, as the associated Celebrity Substitutes branding implies, center on celebrities teaching everything from biology to code.
Other content being surfaced is broader. YouTube has seen rapid increases in videos related to home DIY projects, exercise under quarantine, and how somebody can give themselves a haircut, for example.
These policies will likely be tweaked but shouldn’t be expected to go anywhere
Now, YouTube has been enforcing and enacting similar anti-misinformation campaigns throughout much of its existence. That’s a fact pointed out by its chief executive during the interview.
As discussed by the CEO, YouTube is noting an acceleration of ‘digital lives’ in everything from working to learning from home. These are concepts that, according to Ms. Wojcicki, previously occupied a realm more akin to science fiction than reality. But the ongoing health issues are driving the trend forward. That’s going to feed into a need for measures against misinformation.
So it doesn’t seem as though the Google-owned company will be considering backing away from the new policies anytime soon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQtxZhxvys4