YouTube’s Truth Police: Shielding Us from Misinformation or Dissent?

RSB Staff August 16, 2023August 16, 2023 Algorithmic Filtering, Alternate Views, censorship, Content Denial, COVID-19, debate, Fact Checking, free speech, Health Authority, Health Content, Health Guidelines, Information Diversity, Information Suppression, Medical Misinformation, Misinformation Control, Online Platforms, public health, Scientific Inquiry, vaccines, youtube

So, YouTube just dropped a bombshell – they’re going all out to tackle what they call “medical misinformation” on their platform. Sounds like they’re trying to play the hero, right? But let’s put on our thinking caps, because this might not be as straightforward as it seems. The big question here is whether all the info that popped up during the COVID chaos is really as off the mark as they say.

In a blog post that’s making waves, YouTube’s basically saying they’re putting their foot down on health content that doesn’t follow the official line. They’re thinking “community guidelines” and global health rules. But hey, are they really the ones who get to call the shots on what’s true and what’s not? Lately, YouTube’s been taking heat for their algorithm that sometimes points folks towards “crazy conspiracy theories” and “wild ideas”. They boasted they’ve wiped out over a million videos spouting “dangerous coronavirus info” in 2021. Okay, that sounds responsible to some people, but wait, aren’t they the judge and jury here? Who’s saying what’s dangerous and what’s just a different take on things?

Now, let’s unpack their game plan. They’re breaking medical misinformation into three groups: “Prevention, Treatment, and Denial.” Sounds all official and stuff. But hang on a second—shouldn’t there be room for different opinions? Videos that challenge the mainstream on things like preventing or treating health issues, including vaccines, will be wiped out. Sure, they want to clean up the mess, but are they accidentally silencing the voices we need to hear?

The treatment angle is a bit tricky too. Tossing out things that could harm folks? Absolutely. But hold on, what about the vids that chat about treatments that aren’t quite mainstream yet? You know, the kind that could be game-changers down the line? By cutting those convos, YouTube might just be throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

Now, let’s talk about the biggie – content denial. Here’s the catch, isn’t “denial” kind of a judgment call? And isn’t it healthy to have a mix of ideas, even if they don’t jive with the norm? Plus, do we really want just a few big names, like “health authorities” and the World Health Organization (WHO), deciding what’s what?

And don’t get me started on this “public health risk” thing. Yeah, we’ve got to look out for the public, but is this a fancy way to squash views that don’t go with the flow? Remember, science sometimes flips and flops. Those rebels who think outside the box and question the status quo, they’ve often led us to huge discoveries. By silencing them, are we slowing down the train of progress?

Now, let’s talk cancer. YouTube’s gung-ho about yanking content that talks about treatments that could be bad news. But what about the videos that chat about treatments that are new or alternative but might just be the breakthrough we’re waiting for? Science sometimes needs a kick in the pants from left field to make giant leaps. Are we risking the chance to stumble upon the next big thing by hushing up these conversations?

So, here’s the deal. YouTube’s new game might sound snazzy, but it’s got us scratching our heads. Are they “accidentally” hitting mute on the voices we need to hear? Are they getting to decide what’s true and what’s not? And could they be sweeping away the conversations that might just lead to groundbreaking discoveries? In a world flooded with info, maybe we should leave the door open for more voices—even if they’re singing a different tune.

-SD