YouTube has announced that it will be rolling out a plan of action to reduce the number of videos it recommends to users on its platform which spread false information in regards to 5G technology being linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company also announced that it will also remove videos that violate its policies of which, coronavirus being linked to 5G conspiracies spread fake news which goes against the YouTube guidelines.
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YouTube claims that they will also be reducing the way in which these videos pop up in your search results so users that upload COVID-19 and 5G related videos will not be getting many views. However, 5G and COVID-19 related videos will be filtered before they are removed which is still concerning for the most part.
The news comes in light of a widespread fear being sparked by fake news and blog posts surrounding 5G and its link to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past week, five cellphone towers in the UK have been set on fire after online conspiracy theories have inaccurately claimed that the network technology is linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of these towers was not even a 5G tower.
YouTube is taking drastic steps to prevent the spread of this fake news and 5G COVID-19 conspiracies saying;
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#ED0F0F” class=”” size=”21″]clear policies that prohibit videos promoting medically unsubstantiated methods to prevent the coronavirus in place of seeking medical treatment. Reducing recommendations of borderline content such as conspiracy theories related to 5G and coronavirus, that could misinform users in harmful ways.”[/perfectpullquote]
Let’s hope Facebook and other social media platforms follow the mass action as users are also using the platforms to share this fake news.
