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A comment on Christchurch shooter was radicalized on YouTube, New Zealand report says. Parent comment

Re:Christchurch shooter was radicalized on YouTube, New Zeal... by rimiform on Tuesday December 08, 2020 @10:05AM (#25346084)
Actively? It sounds like you're erroneously attributing some sinister 'purpose' to the algorithm.

The YT recommendation algorithm doesn't have any preference for what it sends you to, only that you keep coming back.

The music industry might do something similar (simpler, poppier tunes), but it's far, far slower than YouTube, so you can accumulate less 'radicalisation' on aggregate.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Christchurch shooter was radicalized on YouTube, New Zeal... by user-the-name on Tuesday December 08, 2020 @10:33AM (#25346523)
Actively, as in, it is pushing you towards this content. You do not have to seek it out specifically, the algorithm will steer you towards it.
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Re:Christchurch shooter was radicalized on YouTube, New Zeal... by rimiform on Tuesday December 08, 2020 @10:47AM (#25346753)
Ah, okay. Sure, that's what any recommendation system will do. But it's not like how Netflix 'actively' (might not be the best word to use, then) steers you towards Netflix originals because Netflix prefers you watching those.

That's what I thought you meant, but it looks like I was mistaken.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Christchurch shooter was radicalized on YouTube, New Zeal... by user-the-name on Wednesday December 09, 2020 @05:51AM (#25357323)
At some point the decision to not act on a problem becomes an active choice in favour of the problem, though.
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Re:Christchurch shooter was radicalized on YouTube, New Zeal... by SpicyLemonZest on Tuesday December 08, 2020 @10:08AM (#25346120)
But I think that's the point. Because Youtube has such a fast feedback loop, they have a special responsibility to avoid over-optimizing on getting you to watch the next video.
[ Parent | on HN ]