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Can YouTube Quiet Its Conspiracy Theorists?
The New York Times ^ | 02 March 2020` | Jack Nicas Produced by Rumsey Taylor, Alana Celii and Dave Horn

Posted on 03/02/2020 10:45:48 AM PST by Theoria

A new study examines YouTube’s efforts to limit the spread of conspiracy theories on its site, from videos claiming the end times are near to those questioning climate change.

Climate change is a hoax, the Bible predicted President Trump’s election and Elon Musk is a devil worshiper trying to take over the world.

All of these fictions have found life on YouTube, the world’s largest video site, in part because YouTube’s own recommendations steered people their way.

For years it has been a highly effective megaphone for conspiracy theorists, and YouTube, owned and run by Google, has admitted as much. In January 2019, YouTube said it would limit the spread of videos “that could misinform users in harmful ways.”

One year later, YouTube recommends conspiracy theories far less than before. But its progress has been uneven and it continues to advance certain types of fabrications, according to a new study from researchers at University of California, Berkeley.

YouTube’s efforts to curb conspiracy theories pose a major test of Silicon Valley’s ability to combat misinformation, particularly ahead of this year’s elections. The study, which examined eight million recommendations over 15 months, provides one of the clearest pictures yet of that fight, and the mixed findings show how challenging the issue remains for tech companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter.

The researchers found that YouTube has nearly eradicated some conspiracy theories from its recommendations, including claims that the earth is flat and that the U.S. government carried out the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, two falsehoods the company identified as targets last year.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: algorithm; censor; censorship; conspiracy; conspiracytheory; google; qanon; youtube
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1 posted on 03/02/2020 10:45:48 AM PST by Theoria
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To: Theoria

2 posted on 03/02/2020 10:46:09 AM PST by Theoria (I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive)
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To: Theoria

Climate change is real, science tells us that the climate has continually changed since the beginning of time.

Man caused climate change is the hoax.


3 posted on 03/02/2020 10:48:30 AM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents_Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: Theoria

Add to that the flat earthers, anti-5G, anti “smart” meter, 9/11 was an inside job, towers brought down by controlled demolition, FEMA death camps, etc, etc, etc.


4 posted on 03/02/2020 10:50:43 AM PST by 2CAVTrooper (Political Science degrees, so easy Obama has one.)
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To: Theoria

Can the NYT quiet it’s Leftwing journalists? I say the heck with the First Amendment! Promoting Progressive Politics ought to be illegal!!


5 posted on 03/02/2020 10:50:50 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (If White Privilege is real, why did Elizabeth Warren lie about being an Indian?)
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To: Theoria

6 posted on 03/02/2020 10:51:52 AM PST by Theoria (I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive)
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To: Theoria

It’s the NYT.
Long past time we learned that we just don’t bother reading it.


7 posted on 03/02/2020 10:53:46 AM PST by Da Coyote
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To: Theoria

That’s why I watch Youtube for the entertainment. Cant be all straight-laced all the time. It all comes down to the viewer if they believe it or not.

Case in point? The video of the “parent” from the Sandy Hook shooting who was laughing and joking 30 seconds before THEN went to cry mode after CNN and the cameras interviewed him live about his “daughter” dying..Yeah, this is still a source of contention among Freepers. It’s been taken down I think.


8 posted on 03/02/2020 10:58:25 AM PST by max americana (Fired ONE libtard at work at every election since 2008 because I enjoy them crying)
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To: Theoria
Not all conspiracy theories are untrue.

9 posted on 03/02/2020 10:58:50 AM PST by BitWielder1 (I'd rather have Unequal Wealth than Equal Poverty.)
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To: Theoria

The NYT is a subversive lefist conspiracy site. Youtube has no right to dictate what they want people to watch. Sherman Anti-trust and RICO these SOBs.


10 posted on 03/02/2020 10:58:59 AM PST by WKUHilltopper
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To: Lurkinanloomin
Man caused climate change is the hoax.

And so is the presumption that it can be "fixed".

11 posted on 03/02/2020 11:05:26 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (There is not a climate bedwetter who is not a total hypocrite.)
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To: Theoria

“Silicon Valley’s ability to combat misinformation”

But this presupposes silicon valley’s ability to know what’s true, and their ability to be honest.

I think they have minimal ability in both areas.


12 posted on 03/02/2020 11:11:57 AM PST by reasonisfaith (What are the implications if the Resurrection of Christ is a true event in history?)
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To: Theoria

How fitting for the NY Slimes to do that story. If any outfit knows FICTION, it would be the Slimes.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR OF A PAPER WORTHWHILE? YOU MEAN, YOU STILL TAKE A PAPER?
https://www.brighteon.com/6043388429001


13 posted on 03/02/2020 11:12:02 AM PST by Dick Bachert (THE DEEP STATE HATES YOU!)
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To: Theoria

says the NYT the arbitrator of “truth” IE: Pravda


14 posted on 03/02/2020 11:14:38 AM PST by Steve Van Doorn (*in my best Eric Cartman voice* 'I love you, guys')
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To: Theoria

LOL - battling conspiracy theories:

“from videos claiming the end times are near to those questioning climate change”

The Climate Change fundamentalists are the ones claiming the end times are near!!!


15 posted on 03/02/2020 11:15:34 AM PST by gspurlock (http://www.backyardfence.wordpress.com)
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To: Theoria

Funny how the multiple shooter JFK assassination is now seldom mentioned as a “conspiracy theory.”


16 posted on 03/02/2020 11:15:44 AM PST by reasonisfaith (What are the implications if the Resurrection of Christ is a true event in history?)
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To: Theoria
Youtube announces more 1st ammendment assaults/censorship.

And it's not Conspiracy theory if it's true.

17 posted on 03/02/2020 11:20:41 AM PST by Pajamajan ( Pray for our nation. Thank the Lord for everything you have. Don't wait do it today.)
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To: Theoria

“Climate change” is a wackadoo conspiracy theory—that is why the Slimes is complaining about conspiracy theories.


18 posted on 03/02/2020 11:20:46 AM PST by cgbg (The Democratic Party is morphing into the Donner Party)
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To: Theoria

I love the crazies on YT. Very entertaining stuff.


19 posted on 03/02/2020 11:25:38 AM PST by Veggie Todd (Voltaire: "Religion began when the first scoundrel met the first fool".)
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To: 2CAVTrooper

“anti “smart” meter”

I wholly agree with that.


20 posted on 03/02/2020 12:24:05 PM PST by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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