YouTube Is Experimenting with a New ‘Community Notes’ Feature

Soon, you might notice notes appearing across YouTube videos. The Google-owned platform is testing a new feature similar to X’s Community Notes, allowing users to add context to various posts to curb the spread of misinformation.

Initially, YouTube’s version of this feature will be available only on mobile devices in the United States and will support English. According to YouTube’s blog, “This could include notes that clarify when a song is meant to be a parody, point out when a new version of a product being reviewed is available, or let viewers know when older footage is mistakenly portrayed as a current event.”

This system has many potential applications, especially on a platform like YouTube. The YouTube Team anticipates mistakes during the testing phase, with some notes possibly not matching the videos well. These errors will provide valuable feedback on the quality of the notes and how to improve the system over time for broader expansion in the future.

To begin with, only a limited number of eligible contributors will be invited to participate in the program, with invitations sent via email and through Creator Studio. Eligibility will depend on whether a user has an active YouTube channel in good standing.

During the experiment, users can rate notes that appear publicly under videos. Ratings will include options like “helpful,” “somewhat helpful,” or “unhelpful,” along with a box to input the reason for the selected rating. This feedback will help determine which notes should remain and guide the improvement of the system using a bridging-based algorithm.