YouTube’s trying out a small, but potentially significant update which will blur video thumbnails for adult content within search results and related displays in the app.
As explained by YouTube:
“We’re experimenting with a new feature that’s aimed at providing safer search experiences for all users. For search queries that frequently include sexual themes, the search results may display blurred thumbnails. The video title, channel name, and description will remain visible. Users will have the option to unblur thumbnails.”
Essentially, much like Google’s Safe Search, YouTube’s also looking to provide a better filter for adult content, by obscuring what could potentially be disturbing images in search listings.
“The goal of this test is to understand whether this type of feature helps users avoid accidentally viewing content that follows YouTube’s Community Guidelines but may be sensitive in nature. We’re rolling this test out to a small percentage of viewers.”
So it’s only a small-scale test for now, but conceptually, it could give YouTube another filter to protect unsuspecting, and younger viewers from seeing offensive content.
Which is important, because YouTube is the most used online platform among teens aged between 13 and 17, with around 95% of them regularly logging onto the app. And while YouTube generally does a good job of restricting adult content, some does still get through, with users more recently reporting exposure to unwanted graphic content within playlists that have not been marked accordingly.
Online exposure to adult content is a problem more broadly, with a study conducted by Common Sense Media in 2023 showing that 73% of teen respondents under the age 18 have watched pornography online, with more than half first seeing such content by the time they reached the age of 13.
Again, YouTube’s systems and processes do generally protect against such. But given the scope of the issue, any additional measures are likely a positive step, and could help to limit harmful exposure.
YouTube also has “Restricted Mode” which further limits content exposure, while there’s also the YouTube Kids app, for younger users. But thumbnail blurring on potentially inappropriate content seems like another positive step, helping to reduce unwanted exposure, among both teens and adults, in the app.
Source link
