Clickbait is annoying because it misleads about the actual content of the message. On YouTube, this is a common phenomenon and Google is starting to fight it.
“In the coming months,” the fight against clickbait on YouTube will begin in India. Google is targeting cases where the title or thumbnail of the video contains promises or claims that are not present in the video itself, especially if it concerns breaking news and current events.
“Because of this, viewers may feel duped, disappointed, or even misled, especially in moments when they come to YouTube seeking important or relevant information”.
To give content creators time, Google will start by removing content that, in the company’s view, contains clickbait, without issuing warnings. Initially, the priority in “enforcing the rules” will be given to new videos.
The announcement Google is very brief and does not specify many details. It is unclear how exactly “news and current events” will be classified — whether it includes, for example, sports or other thematic news. It is also unclear how exactly the verification will take place — considering the millions of videos, it’s unlikely to involve human review.
It is also unknown when the new YouTube policy will expand to other regions or when it will become more stringent. Likely, intensifying the fight against clickbait will require additional guidelines from Google.
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