Have you experienced this? You search for ‘how to lose fat’ on YouTube and come across videos titled ‘health drinks to lose fat in 7 days’. And the videos discuss health drinks without any scientific evidence.
Now, imagine you search for serious health conditions like cancer and find similar misleading content. Think about the impact of such misleading health content. It can lead to hospitalisation and even death in some cases.
To address this issue, YouTube has updated its medical misinformation policy. It will ensure only credible health information reaches the users.
Let’s understand YouTube’s medical misinformation policy and how this update will curb false health information on YouTube.
YouTube’s previous approaches to medical misinformation
YouTube announced its first set of policies against medical misinformation in 2017. It prohibited content promoting false health information and unproven treatments. In 2020, the platform updated its policy to take action against misleading information on covid and covid vaccines.
In late 2021, YouTube entirely banned vaccine misinformation from its platform. It also took action against other videos promoting misinformation about health topics, including reproductive health, vaccines, rare illnesses and cancer.
Despite these efforts, YouTube continues to be a platform for the spread of medical misinformation. In 2022, a study by the Pew Research Center found that 1 in 3 Americans had seen false or misleading health information on YouTube.
Therefore, YouTube brought in a new update to deal with medical misinformation.
Key updates to YouTube’s Medical Misinformation Policy
Streamlining medical misinformation under three categories—Prevention, Treatment and Denial
YouTube will now remove content contradicting local health authorities or the World Health Organisation (WHO) on specific health conditions and treatments.
Content will be removed if it contradicts health authority guidelines and spreads misinformation about prevention, treatment and denial of specific health conditions.
- Misinformation about the Prevention or transmission of health conditions or the safety or efficacy of approved vaccines. For example, content that claims that covid 19 cannot spread in certain climates or geographies.
- Misinformation about the Treatment of specific health conditions, including promoting harmful substances or practices. For example, content that recommends home remedies to treat tuberculosis instead of seeking medical advice.
- Misinformation through Denial: Content that denies the existence of specific health conditions. For example, content that denies people have died from covid-19.
Removing cancer treatment misinformation
Misinformation about cancer has high public health risks, as cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. To curb misleading information about cancer, YouTube has started removing videos that contain inaccurate cancer information. It includes content promoting harmful or ineffective treatments and discouraging medical assistance.
Make high-quality health content available
YouTube is collaborating with Mayo Clinic to publish an engaging and informative playlist of cancer-related videos.
What happens if the content violates the policy?
If video content on YouTube violates the medical misinformation policy, YouTube will remove the video and email the same to the creator.
If it happens for the first time, a warning will be issued with no strikes or penalties. If not, YouTube will issue a strike against the creator’s channel. If the channel receives three strikes within 90 days, the channel will be terminated.
There is no mention of a penalty in the policy.
Exceptions to YouTube’s medical misinformation policy
Videos violating YouTube’s policy may be allowed on the platform if:
- The creator adds additional context to the video, its title or description and doesn’t promote misinformation.
- The video discusses the results of scientific studies or shows an open public forum like a protest or public hearing.
- The video shares personal experiences with health products. For example, an experience of a vaccine.
YouTube doesn’t guarantee such videos will be allowed. However, if they are allowed, YouTube may age-gate them or add an information panel below such videos to provide users with additional context.
Takeaway
YouTube is a video-streaming platform with over 2.7 billion active users. And due to its free and accessible nature, people of all ages and all walks of life use the platform.
This has also given rise to self-proclaimed influencers who share inaccurate health information like ‘use garlic to treat cancer’. As they make engaging content, it quickly goes viral. And adversely impacts the health of people who follow it without medical consultation.
YouTube’s updated medical misinformation policy will ensure only credible health information will be available on the platform. The caveats in the policy also give hope that YouTube will balance free expression with public health.
“We want our approach to be clear and transparent, so that content creators understand where the policy lines are, and viewers know they can trust the health information they find on YouTube.”
– Dr. Garth Graham and Matt Halprin, Director and Global Head of Healthcare and Public Health Partnerships, and VP and Global Head of Trust and Safety.
