YouTube Mulls Link-Blocking, Displaying Warnings to Stop Misinformation
To prevent misinformation from going viral, YouTube may block the ability of third-party websites to link to “borderline videos” that come close to breaking the platform’s rules.
The video-sharing site brought up the idea in a Thursday blog post discussing its ongoing efforts to curb misinformation. YouTube claims its recommendation algorithms already avoid pushing borderline content, such as conspiracy theories, to users. But one challenge is that misinformation on YouTube can go viral outside the platform, thanks to third-party links.
“One possible way to address this is to disable the share button or break the link on videos that we’re already limiting in recommendations," YouTube Chief Product Officer Neal Mohan wrote. "That effectively means you couldn’t embed or link to a borderline video on another site.”
However, the change would also stop users from sharing and viewing videos they’ve deliberately sought out, which doesn’t sit well with YouTube.
“We grapple with whether preventing shares may go too far in restricting a viewer’s freedoms,” Mohan added. “Our systems reduce borderline content in recommendations, but sharing a link is an active choice a person can make, distinct from a more passive action like watching a recommended video.”
The other problem is that news reports and research studies sometimes link to or embed a borderline video to demonstrate why the content is disputable or factually wrong. "We need to be careful to balance limiting the spread of potentially harmful misinformation, while allowing space for discussion of and education about sensitive and controversial topics," Mohan added.
YouTube’s other idea involves placing an “interstitial” warning on borderline videos that’ve been linked to
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