YouTube is developing a new experimental feature to provide viewers with more information about video content and enrich the context.
The new feature will allow timely and easy-to-understand notes to be added to videos. These notes could include information as diverse as whether a song is a parody, when a new version of the product under review will be released, or how to avoid misinterpreting old footage as current events. Here are all the details…
Purpose and scope of the notes
This innovative step builds on YouTube‘s previous contextualization tools, such as knowledge panels and the recently introduced disclosure requirements for content changes or synthetic content. The feature is being tested and will be available in English for mobile users in the US.
YouTube anticipates mistakes during the pilot and emphasizes that these mistakes will contribute to learning. Viewers, participants, and creators are encouraged to provide feedback on the quality of the notes. This feedback will play an important role in expanding and improving the feature.
A limited number of eligible participants will be invited to write notes in the pilot. Participants must have an active YouTube channel and follow the Community Guidelines. Third-party reviewers—the same people who provide feedback on YouTube’s search results and recommendations—will evaluate the usefulness of the notes. At a later stage, it is planned that the participants themselves will also evaluate the notes.
The notes will appear publicly below the video if they are generally useful. Viewers can rate whether the notes are ‘useful,’ ‘somewhat useful,’ or ‘useless’ and explain why they think so. An algorithm will use these ratings to determine which notes are published.
Through this feature, YouTube aims to make the content context on the platform more relevant, dynamic, and unique. Feedback from viewers, contributors, and creators will contribute to efforts to improve the quality of information on the platform.
YouTube’s new feature can improve user experience by making video content more understandable and informative. It remains to be seen how this feature will impact knowledge sharing and learning on the platform.
Featured image credit: Szabo Viktor / Unsplash
