YouTube removing videos including misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccines
Published September 29, 2021 at 10:52 am
YouTube has announced it is updating its policies regarding medical misinformation included in videos shared on the popular social media platform.
As of Wednesday (September 29), any videos shared to YouTube that make false claims about vaccines, such as that they are dangerous and cause chronic health effects, that they do not reduce transmission or contraction of the disease, or that include misinformation related to the substances contained within vaccines will be removed from the platform.
This includes videos that falsely claim vaccines cause autism, cancer, or infertility, as well as videos suggesting vaccines include tracking devices (a belief commonly shared among anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists).
“Working closely with health authorities, we looked to balance our commitment to an open platform with the need to remove egregiously harmful content,” reads a statement from the company.
However, YouTube will continue to allow videos related to vaccine policies, new vaccine trials, and historical vaccine successes or failures to be shared on its platform.
Additionally, personal testimonials relating to vaccines will also be allowed, provided they don’t violate other Community Guidelines, and the channel doesn’t show a pattern of promoting vaccine hesitancy.
Videos
Since 2020, the social media platform has removed more than 130,000 videos for violating policies related to COVID-19 vaccines.
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