YouTube Bans Misinformation on CDC Approved Vaccines
YouTube is taking anti-vaxxers and the spread of Covid-19 misinformation into their own hands with new policies. But, people have a lot to say about it.
Detailed in the YouTube Community Guidelines lies a policy banning misleading content that could be harmful to the viewers. As a big platform, YouTube ensures factually correct information, especially about Covid-19.
Vice President of YouTube Matt Halprin notes, “In the weeks and months that followed the launch of the COVID-19 vaccine misinformation policy, we observed content and realized that there appeared to be an interaction between general vaccine hesitancy that was being promoted on the platform and COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.”
The new policy will terminate channels that spread misinformation about the vaccine, including channels of anti-vaxxers Joseph Mercola and Erin Elizabeth –both of whom are prominent leaders of spreading misinformation. Also, YouTube will remove the false information to prevent the spread further. Essentially, YouTube will take down videos that promote the vaccines as dangerous or part of a conspiracy theory.
Who determines whether it’s correct information? Running into a business and seeing the tiny group of us targeted on television today is completely insane. A handful of other “anti-vaccine” public figures. OK then. pic.twitter.com/RdnOCJKWN6
— Erin Elizabeth Health Nut News (@unhealthytruth) September 29, 2021
In response to YouTube banning the Mercola channel: pic.twitter.com/Nix3C4x9yD
— Dr. Joseph Mercola (@mercola) September 29, 2021
YouTubers are still able to talk about personal experiences with the vaccine or symptoms. They will also be able to have scientific conversations about the current vaccine or previous ones. But, they will not be able to discourage viewers from receiving the vaccine, and they will not be able to say that the vaccine is unsafe or ineffective.
With new policies in the works, YouTube hopes to reduce the misinformation about vaccines and Covid-19 to get more people on board with the new measures needed to get to a safer and healthier place.
On the other hand, many people are taking to social media to argue YouTube, and the government is censoring everyone from open information. However, others say that big corporations should be using their platform to spread correct information instead of housing incorrect messages. Thoughts?
According to WaPo, it’s the federal government pressuring tech companies to increase censorship of ideas that disagree w/ big pharma
— ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ElijahSchaffer) September 29, 2021
Let that sink in. Our government is pushing censorship of its own people
Who’s the federal government again?https://t.co/0euundcYPl
Imagine how many lives could have been saved if they did this 6 months ago. Add, if @Twitter and @Facebook started doing it then, or even now! https://t.co/7gQrXvB50H
— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) September 29, 2021
Of course, everyone wants to do their own research so they can make a decision. But, let’s make an informed one. For correct vaccine information, read here.
Content Writer
