BLUF
YouTube is banning all videos that include false information about vaccines or make false claims that approved vaccines are dangerous.Summary
This article makes the following points about anti-vaccine misinformation:
YouTube has stated that they will remove any videos claiming that covid vaccines don't reduce rates of transmission or disease contraction.
They will also remove any misinformation about vaccines, such as that vaccines cause autism, cancer or infertility, or contain trackers.
Their new policy expands the rules regarding misleading claims about long-approved vaccines and falsehoods about vaccines in general.
Personal testimonies relating to vaccines, content about vaccine policies and new vaccine trials, and videos about vaccine successes or failures will remain.
The policy update is an important step to address vaccine and health misinformation.
Anti-vaccine activists have built massive audiences online. The Center for Countering Digital Hate published research showing that a group of 12 people were responsible for sharing 65% of all anti-vaccine messaging on social media.
YouTube said that it had removed over 130,000 videos for violating its Covid-19 vaccine policies in the past year.
References
Jan 2021 Medical News Today Addressing 13 COVID-19 vaccine myths
Sep 2021 ABC News YouTube bans all antivax content - The Backstory with Matt Bevan
Sep 2021 BBC News YouTube to remove all anti-vaccine misinformation
Sep 2021 Britannica The Top COVID-19 Vaccine Myths Spreading Online
