YouTube, which has more than 2 billion users, wants to start labelling videos from reliable health sources on its platform in an effort to combat misinformation. — Photo: Silas Stein/dpa
BERLIN: YouTube wants to begin labelling videos that offer particularly reliable health information in an effort to limit the impact of poorly sourced content and misinformation on its platform.
A new label format is set to deliver information making it easier to classify the origin of any health-related video you might be about to watch, YouTube manager Garth Graham, Global Head of YouTube Health, announced in a blog post on Tuesday.
Germany is set to be the first country in which the new YouTube Health concept is introduced. Graham told dpa that "reliable sources" for health-related topics were important for YouTube, which has more than 2 billion annual users around the world.
YouTube has previously taken criticism for hosting incorrect, inaccurate and dubious health information. In mid-2020, the European Commission alerted to false information on YouTube in a campaign to combat disinformation in connection with the pandemic.
Posts from channels with the Health label will also be highlighted in search results in the health-related content section when users search for health topics. This should enable these posts with the label to increase their reach.
Among those initially able to apply for the label will be health institutions, educational institutions, health departments, government organisations and medical journals can apply for inclusion from October 27, 2022 onwards. YouTube Health is then expected to launch in early 2023.
To select reliable sources of health information, YouTube applies content criteria developed by the US non-governmental organisation National Academy of Medicine (NAM). These principles have also been validated by the World Health Organisation. – dpa
