Covid-19: YouTube sees 75% jump in news views on thirst for virus updates

YouTube, part of Alphabet Inc’s Google, reaches more than two billion viewers a month and has had a significant traffic surge since the pandemic took hold. One of the largest upswings went to videos the company classifies as ‘news’, according to Mohan. — Reuters

News viewership on YouTube soared 75% in recent weeks from the same time last year, with millions of people turning to the video site for updates on the coronavirus, chief product officer Neal Mohan told Bloomberg Television.

YouTube, part of Alphabet Inc’s Google, reaches more than two billion viewers a month and has had a significant traffic surge since the pandemic took hold. One of the largest upswings went to videos the company classifies as “news”, according to Mohan. “People are trying to consume as much information around this crisis,” he said. “It’s top of mind for everybody.”