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YouTube will enable ads on some coronavirus videos

A limited number of creators, including certain news partners, will be able to monetize content.

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Abrar Al-Heeti Video producer / CNET
Abrar Al-Heeti is a video host and producer for CNET, with an interest in internet trends, entertainment, pop culture and digital accessibility. Before joining the video team, she was a writer for CNET's culture team. She graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Though Illinois is home, she now loves San Francisco -- steep inclines and all.
Expertise Abrar has spent her career at CNET breaking down the latest trends on TikTok, Twitter and Instagram, while also reporting on diversity and inclusion initiatives in Hollywood and Silicon Valley. Credentials
  • Named a Tech Media Trailblazer by the Consumer Technology Association in 2019, a winner of SPJ NorCal's Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2022 and has twice been a finalist in the LA Press Club's National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards.
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Abrar Al-Heeti
2 min read
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YouTube will allow certain creators to monetize content discussing coronavirus. 

 Angela Lang/CNET
For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites.

YouTube will begin allowing ads on videos that discuss coronavirus for a "limited number of channels," CEO Susan Wojcicki said in a Wednesday blog post. This includes creators who "accurately self-certify" as well as several news partners, she said. YouTube is planning to expand monetization to more news organizations and creators in the coming weeks. 

The video sharing site has a sensitive events policy that currently prevents monetization on videos that have "more than a passing mention of the coronavirus ." Wojcicki said that policy was meant to apply to short-term events like natural disasters. 

"It's becoming clear this issue is now an ongoing and important part of everyday conversation, and we want to make sure news organizations and creators can continue producing quality videos in a sustainable way," Wojcicki wrote. 

Coronavirus updates

COVID-19, the disease caused by a newly identified coronavirus first detected in China in December, has now infected more than 124,000 people and killed more than 4,500 around the world.

Wojcicki said YouTube is using its homepage to link out to global organizations like the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help people easily find updates. In addition, the company is donating advertising inventory to governments and NGOs in affected regions. 

The site is also prioritizing authoritative sources in search and recommendations, and displaying information panels providing context on relevant videos.

coronavirus
Watch this: Coronavirus and COVID-19: Everything you need to know

"YouTube will continue to quickly remove videos that violate our policies when they are flagged, including those that discourage people from seeking medical treatment or claim harmful substances have health benefits," Wojcicki noted. "Finding trustworthy content is especially critical as news is breaking, and we'll continue to make sure YouTube delivers accurate information for our users."