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Journalism of Courage
YouTube has announced stricter measures against Indian users and content creators who upload videos with “egregious clickbait” in the title or thumbnail.
“Egregious clickbait occurs when the video’s title or thumbnail includes promises or claims that aren’t delivered within the video itself, especially when that content focuses on breaking news or current events,” the Alphabet-owned company said in a blog post on Wednesday, December 18.
It also said that content with egregious clickbait can “leave viewers feeling tricked, frustrated, or even misled – particularly in moments when they come to YouTube in search for important or timely information.”
YouTube videos that cover topics related to breaking news or current events will come under the scanner, the platform said.
This means that titling a video with a flashy headline such as ‘The President Resigned’ or ‘Top Political News’ in the thumbnail with the main purpose of baiting the user to click on the video is now against YouTube’s policy.
To start with, YouTube said it will take down content where the title or thumbnail promises viewers something that the video doesn’t deliver. However, the platform further said it will not issue a strike against the Channel in order to give users time to adjust to the changes in its policy.
YouTube has yet to clarify what it defines as videos covering breaking news or current events, and how it plans on identifying content with egregious clickbait. Additionally, the platform has not outlined what steps users can take to appeal the takedown of their content and have it restored.
