YouTube to Remove Clickbait Videos from Indian Users Under New Policy

YouTube has announced stricter policies targeting Indian users and content creators who use misleading clickbait in their titles or thumbnails. The company clarified that “egregious clickbait” refers to misleading claims or promises in titles and thumbnails that fail to align with the content of the video, especially on topics like breaking news or current events.

“Egregious clickbait occurs when the video’s title or thumbnail includes promises or claims that aren’t delivered within the video itself, especially when that content focuses on breaking news or current events,” YouTube explained in a blog post published on December 18.

The company emphasized the impact of such content, stating, “Content with egregious clickbait can leave viewers feeling tricked, frustrated, or even misled – particularly in moments when they come to YouTube in search for important or timely information.”

Targeting Misleading Content on Breaking News
Videos covering breaking news and current events will be subject to higher scrutiny under this new policy. Examples of clickbait flagged under this measure include titles or thumbnails like ‘The President Resigned’ or ‘Top Political News’ that do not accurately represent the video’s content and aim only to lure clicks.

What Actions Will YouTube Take?
Initially, YouTube will focus on removing such misleading content without issuing strikes against channels, giving creators time to adapt to the updated policy. However, the platform has not yet clarified how it will define “breaking news or current events” or how it plans to identify and flag content with egregious clickbait.

Moreover, YouTube has not provided clear guidelines on the appeals process for creators whose videos are removed under this policy. The lack of clarity has left many content creators awaiting more detailed instructions from the platform.