
Audio By Carbonatix
Hundreds of videos that promote bleach as a cure for autism have been discovered on YouTube.The substance, which is peddled as "Miracle Mineral Solution" (MMS), has reportedly caused dozens of injuries and two deaths in the US.According to an investigation by technology news site Business Insider some appeared in the top three search results for "autism cure".YouTube removed most of them after they were reported by the publication.Business Insider journalist Tom Porter said he was "taken aback" by the popularity of some of the videos, which promote MMS as a cure for a range of conditions - including malaria and cancer."People who were just looking for broad information on autism or malaria were being pushed these videos," he told the BBC. "It will have been promoted to people who had never heard of it."He found that the top 20 videos promoting MMS on YouTube had more than 3 million views. Some ran advertisements that linked to pages where users could buy the substance.YouTube reportedly told Business Insider that it does not proactively search for content that violates its policies, but that it had changed its algorithms to prevent MMS videos from appearing in search results."My understanding is that they're not monitoring their own site in order to remove videos which contravene their policies," Mr Porter said."Activists I've spoken to say that's not good enough. They have a responsibility to uphold their own policies so they don't broadcast dangerous information to millions of people across the world."YouTube has faced heavy criticism for surfacing divisive content and conspiracy theories with its algorithms. This January, it published a blog post promising to combat recommendations for "borderline content" - a category that includes "videos promoting a phoney miracle cure for serious illness"."It was just shocking to me that such a clear case of misinformation, that was leading to children being harmed, was allowed to spread so freely, and that they were able to exploit this platform so effectively," Mr Porter said.YouTube has not responded to a request for comment.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Kwahu Business Forum 2026: Corporate citizenship, sustaining African businesses take centre stage with KGL as the case study
49 minutes -
Trump seeks $152m to reopen notorious Alcatraz prison
3 hours -
Ex-Chelsea player Oscar retires with heart issue
3 hours -
CA Foundation drives constitutional literacy in Kpone Katamanso municipality
3 hours -
GPRTU to hold talks with Transport Ministry over rising fuel costs
3 hours -
CUTS International urges gov’t to halt sachet water price hike pending cost review
3 hours -
Chief Justice: Efficient Judiciary essential to reducing business costs
3 hours -
Bayern grabs 99th-minute winner to cap superb fightback
3 hours -
Ahmed Ibrahim urges Ghanaians to reflect Easter values in nation-building
3 hours -
ECG inefficiencies undermining power supply -Mahama outlines reforms
3 hours -
Lewandowski scores as Barca fight back to defeat Atletico
4 hours -
Lack of private sector consultation undermining economic growth – Jerry Ahmed Shaib
4 hours -
Real Madrid seven points adrift after Muriqi’s late Mallorca winner
4 hours -
Ghana must lead AfCFTA implementation by example – Trade Minister Ofosu-Adjare
4 hours -
Strong Judiciary key to business confidence – Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie
4 hours