With most video playback features already well-established, Google is focusing on enhancing YouTube’s community features. In response to the widespread misinformation on the internet, Google, as the owner of the world’s largest social media platform, is rolling out a new tool to address this issue.
Some users have begun receiving emails (via 9To5Google) inviting them to test a new feature called ‘Viewers’ Notes,’ which is similar to X’s (formerly Twitter) Community Notes feature. This feature allows users who find a YouTube video “confusing or inaccurate” to submit a note to provide additional clarification. The YouTube community can then collectively decide whether or not to display the note under the video. Users can also add timestamps to specific points in the video.
Google first announced the feature in June 2024 and began testing it with a limited group of users. Now, the feature appears to be rolling out more broadly, currently available only on smartphones and tablets. If you have a Galaxy smartphone or tablet, you might soon see it in action. Google may expand the feature to other platforms once testing is complete.
YouTube encourages users to cite sources in their notes, keep them neutral and easy to understand, and provide context that isn’t immediately obvious. Notes should directly address specific claims made in the video or its title. The note will only be published if a sufficient number of users rate it as “helpful.”
