One in four of most popular Covid-19 videos ‘are misleading’

Over one in four of the most viewed videos relating to Covid-19 on YouTube contains misleading or inaccurate information
PA

More than one in four of the most viewed videos relating to Covid-19 on YouTube contains misleading or inaccurate information, a study suggests.

Researchers analysed the contents of the platform’s most widely-viewed clips as of March 21.

In the study of 69 videos, which have accumulated more than 257 million views, 19 (27.5%) were found to feature non-factual details — totalling over 62 million views.

A paper published in the BMJ Global Health journal said that good quality videos by experts and government bodies lacked popular appeal.

Google-owned YouTube has taken action to halt misinformation.

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