Google has rolled out a full version of its Moderator service for all YouTube users, allowing channel owners and viewers to discuss videos and other relevant topics on channel pages, as a more ordered alternative to video comments.

The YouTube blog explains: "Starting today, we've integrated the ability to use Google Moderator into every single YouTube channel.

"Moderator is a versatile, social platform that allows you to solicit ideas or questions on any topic, and have the community vote the best ones up to the top in real-time."

By giving channel owners the power to police offensive content, which can also be voted down by users, the Google/YouTube Moderator aims to bring some level of order to the chaotic world of YouTube comments.

Google Moderator was originally developed by the company's engineer Taliver Heath as a way to prioritise questions asked during company meetings and lectures, and received wider attention in December 2008 when it was used by the transition team of US President-Elect Barack Obama to respond to questions from the general public.

Generating 5.7 million votes from the public on 86,000 questions in just over a week of operation, Google Moderator was a key catalyst in the President's appointment of Google's project manager Katie Jacobs Stanton to the new position of Director of Citizen Participation.

As well as being a useful social tool, the Moderator feature can also be helpful for corporate YouTube channels as a way to receive and respond to user feedback. Organisations such as the New York Times are already asking users to submit their questions on the dynamic channel.


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Source: New Media News