YouTube To Receive Two New Health Features In India Amid Pandemic

YouTube will be rolling out a couple of new health features, allowing its users in India to determine the authenticity of the source. These health-centric features will ensure that the health information on YouTube India is from credible sources. The popular video-sharing app from Google, will not feature new health source information panels. Moreover, these panels will highlight videos shared by government entities and reliable health organizations.

In other words, the new YouTube India health features will allow users to identify information from sources that have been verified by the platform. These new health-related features will bring the Health content shelf and a Health source information panel to the Indian users. However, it is worth mentioning here that the aforesaid features are already available in the United States. Furthermore, the Health content shelf and Health source information panel will be in English and Hindi in India.

By enabling the credible videos to stand out, these new features will help YouTube India to combat health-related misinformation on its platform. When a user searches for topics related to physical or mental health on YouTube, a shelf with health content will pop up on their search results. Notably, the health content shelf will feature videos surrounding the topic you are searching for. YouTube will determine which channels qualify to appear on the shelf by using principles provided by WHO verified experts.

YouTube Adds New Health Features In India

This comes at a time when YouTube has been catching flak for globally banning Russian propaganda videos on its platform. For now, the health content shelf will only show government entities, academic medical journals, and accredited health organizations. However, the shelves may not appear in the search results of certain health conditions, according to a report by MySmartPrice. Nevertheless, YouTube is likely to expand the shelves and add more eligible channels in the future.

When you search for health-related topics like stroke, COVID 19, or breast cancer, the health information panels will appear. This health information panel will be available in the search results. Moreover, these panels will highlight information like treatments, prevention, symptoms, and more. Also, this information will be from credible sources and medical institutions like the World Health Organization. These panels will also include a link to the sources' websites to provide more context.

In its press release, YouTube cited Oxford Economics Impact Report 2021 noting that the platform has been an inseparable part of millions of Indians. Moreover, a significant 69 percent of users have been relying on YouTube to get information since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. YouTube has been leaving no stone unturned in its attempt to enhance its platform by adding new features. For instance, it added a myriad of free shows to its already impressive catalog earlier this month.