YouTube may be about to introduce a new and experimental feature that allows users to add ‘notes’ below videos, according to the company. The feature is speculated to work in the same way as the Community Notes feature on Xu (formerly Twitter). With this feature, YouTube aims to add more context to existing content on its platform, such as notifying users if something is a parody or an old video taken out of context – a measure to combat misinformation.
Notes on YouTube
In a blog post, the video streaming platform said that with the inclusion of annotations, it wants to provide easy-to-understand context on videos. “For example, this could include notes clarifying when a song is intended as a parody, highlighting when a new version of the product being reviewed is available, or notifying viewers when older footage is mistakenly shown as a current event,” it said.
Notes on YouTube
Photo credit: YouTube
The feature is being rolled out as an experimental pilot project in English in the US. Eligible contributors will receive an email invitation or notification via Creator Studio to test it before it’s widely available.
It is said to work in the same way as the Community Notes feature on X. According to YouTube, users will find a new one Add notes option below the video. I can then use a text box to provide more context and then press Send. The published note will not show the name of the creator and will be anonymous, the company added.
How does it work
Once submitted, the note will be reviewed by other third-party evaluators, which will help train YouTube’s systems, the company said. Three options will be provided: useful, somewhat useful and not useful. A bridging algorithm will then be used to determine which notes to publish. If several people find the note useful, it will be displayed below the video. Once the project moves out of the pilot phase, contributors themselves will also be able to rate the notes, according to YouTube.
To ensure that the note is considered useful, users can add citations, use high-quality sources, and directly address the claims made. Furthermore, using neutral and easy-to-understand language can help.
