YouTube Introduces "Notes" Feature to Enhance Video Context

In a bid to enhance user engagement and combat misinformation, YouTube is launching a novel feature called “Notes.” This experimental tool enables viewers to add contextual information and clarifications to videos, fostering a more informed and interactive community.

Inspired by the concept of Community Notes on X (formerly Twitter), YouTube’s “Notes” feature aims to provide vital context to videos. For instance, users can indicate when a song is intended as a parody or specify when older footage is being presented as current events. This feature is particularly timely, given the ongoing U.S. election year and the heightened risk of misinformation spread.

Initially, the “Notes” feature will be available on mobile devices in the United States, with English as the primary language. YouTube acknowledges potential errors during the testing phase and encourages feedback from both viewers and creators to refine the feature.

A select group of users with active YouTube channels in good standing will be invited to contribute notes. As the pilot progresses, viewers in the U.S. will start seeing notes on videos, which will be evaluated for helpfulness and accuracy by third-party assessors. These evaluations will help train YouTube’s systems to determine which notes are most valuable to a broad audience.

An algorithm will be employed to publish notes based on their ratings, prioritizing those deemed helpful by a significant number of users. This system will continually improve as more notes are submitted and rated across various video types.

YouTube will assess the feature’s effectiveness and determine whether to officially launch it.

By introducing “Notes,” the platform aims to promote a more informed and engaged community, mitigating the spread of misinformation and enhancing the overall user experience.