YouTube will display Wikipedia blurbs under videos that promote conspiracy theories - but many say it's not enough
- YouTube will start displaying information cues next to conspiracy theory videos
- The information cues appear as a blurb of text that directs to a Wikipedia article
- It's part of the Google-owned platform's efforts to crack down on false videos
- Critics raised some concerns about the strategy, questioning its effectiveness
YouTube is adopting a new strategy to counter the spread of conspiracy theories, and other disinformation on its platform.
The Google-owned site is rolling out 'information cues,' which will display text from Wikipedia articles and other websites alongside some videos, in a couple of weeks, said YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki at the South by Southwest Conference in Austin on Tuesday.
Wojcicki said the information cues will only be used on videos that generate 'significant debate' on YouTube, such as the U.S. moon landing or chemtrails.
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YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki announced at SXSW on Tuesday that the firm will be rolling out a new feature that displays 'information cues' alongside popular conspiracy theories
'People can still watch the videos but then they actually have access to additional information, can click off and go and see that,' Wojcicki said.
YouTube has struggled to curb the spread of hoaxes and false news stories on its site, raising the ire of lawmakers and media advocacy groups.
In particular, YouTube's recommendation engine and autocomplete feature have directed users to questionable videos.
Last year, the company adjusted its algorithms to promote what it described as authoritative sources.
Still, YouTube has faced harsh criticism from people who say its algorithms are far from perfect.
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki (pictured) said the new information cues will only be added to videos generating debate on the site. She reiterated that people can still view the content
After the school shooting in Parkland, Florida last month, YouTube promoted a conspiracy theory video claiming that one of the survivors was a paid actor.
It was the top trending video on the site for at least several hours, before YouTube eventually removed it.
David Hogg, the student who was falsely identified as a crisis actor, told CNN: 'I'm not a crisis actor. I'm someone who had to witness this and live through this and I continue to be having to do that.'
Additionally, popular YouTube channel InfoWars often spread wild conspiracy theories, such as claims that the Sand Hook Elementary School shooting was staged.
Pictured is a sample of the conspiracy theory videos posted about Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg. It's possible that these kinds of videos will now include an 'information cue'
Conspiracy theory videos about Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg claimed that he was a paid crisis actor. One video was at the top of YouTube's trending videos list for several hours
YouTube removed a David Hogg conspiracy theory video from Alex Jones', who runs InfoWars, YouTube channel, and said the video violated its policies against harassment.
Now, a short block of text will appear alongside videos that peddle conspiracy theories, including a link to Wikipedia for additional information.
Wojcicki said the company may consider linking out to other sources of information in the future.
A YouTube spokesperson told Gizmodo that the tool is part of the company's efforts to 'battle misinformation' on the site.
But many critics argue that linking out to Wikipedia is a dubious solution at best.
Users took to Twitter to criticize the move, with one user noting that it was a great way to 'encourage mass defacing of Wikipedia articles at scale.'
Another user said: 'Weren't we told not to use Wikipedia in high school? Now they want to control our minds on YouTube with it.'
Additionally, Wikipedia articles can be easily edited by anyone and, at times, include information that hasn't been verified by third parties.
Pictured is an example of what YouTube's information cues will look like. Here, a conspiracy theory about the U.S. moon landing is directed to a Wikipedia article about the event
'Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a newspaper...as a result, our processes and principles are designed to work well with the usually contemplative process of building an encyclopedia, not sorting out the oft-conflicting and mistaken reporting common during disaster and other breaking news events,' the company's site reads.
Facebook deployed a similar strategy with its fake news problem in 2016.
The social media giant partnered with Snopes, ABC News and Poynter to fact-check, label and bury hoaxes being spread on its site.
However, those organizations have cast doubt on whether the project has done much to stave off the spread of disinformation on the site.
[Q] Who supplied the startup monies...
| Steve Chen 陳士駿 | |
|---|---|
Chen in 2007
| |
| Born | Steven Shih Chen August 18, 1978 Taipei, Taiwan |
| Residence | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
| Occupation | Co-Founder of AVOS |
| Known for | Co-Founder of YouTube |
| Net worth | $300 million[citation needed] |
| Spouse(s) | Park Ji-hyun (Jamie Chen) |
| Children | 2 |
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