Technology

Fox News Got a Big Boost on YouTube From an Algorithm Change

In trying to bury conspiracy theories, a cable news powerhouse was handed a loudspeaker.

The News Corp. headquarters, home to Fox News, in New York City.

Photographer: Mike Segar/Reuters
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If you’ve watched a YouTube Inc. clip recently about Bill Gates’ secret pandemic ploy or the dangers of anti-fascist protest movement Antifa, chances are YouTube queued another video for you in the “Up Next” column from a familiar name—Fox News.

In January 2019, the site, run by Alphabet Inc.’s Google, made a very big change to address its very real misinformation problem. It recognized that some corners were being overrun with conspiracy theories. Algorithms were feeding viewers similar content and YouTube wanted to pull in recommendations from a broader library. As a fix, it rewired its system to promote more “authoritative news” — the sorts of stories from old-school TV stations YouTube once promised to unseat. But by doing so, YouTube accidentally gave America’s top conservative-leaning cable network prime billing.