YouTube is launching a new experimental feature, “Notes,” which allows viewers to provide additional context and information under videos, the company recently announced. The feature is similar to Twitter’s Community Notes and enables viewers to add notes to clarify information, such as when a song is a parody, or to provide context for outdated footage.
The launch comes amidst concerns about misinformation during the 2024 U.S. election, particularly in light of the rise of generative AI. YouTube aims to minimize the spread of misinformation with this new feature.
The pilot is initially available on mobile in the U.S. in English, with a limited number of users invited to write notes. Eligible users must have an active YouTube channel in good standing. Viewers in the U.S. will start to see notes on videos over the coming weeks and months.
During the initial phase, third-party evaluators will rate the helpfulness and accuracy of notes. YouTube will use these responses to train its systems. If evaluators deem notes helpful, they will be displayed under videos, and viewers will be asked to rate their helpfulness and provide feedback.
YouTube’s algorithm will identify notes that are helpful to a broad audience and use this information to determine which notes to display. The system will continuously improve as more notes are submitted and rated across different types of videos. The company will assess whether to roll out the feature officially as it refines the feature.
