Afraid to Google a thing because I don't want the algorithm to think I like it

Re:Afraid to Google a thing because I don't want the algorit... by Mordisquitos on Saturday May 08, 2021 @07:50AM (#27086286)

The best way of not playing this game is to, well... not play it. Why should you pay any attention to what YouTube "suggests" you should watch? I just treat YouTube as a service that hosts videos, with a mediocre search feature, and I have no interest in what it thinks I should watch.

If a real human mentions a video that piques my interest, I may watch it. If I'm interested in finding a video on a particular topic, or a specific scene from this-or-that film or TV show, I will search for it myself. If am interested enough in a certain producer's content, I may "subscribe" to them, but I will be the judge if I want to watch the latest video they uploaded.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Afraid to Google a thing because I don't want the algorit... by antman on Sunday May 09, 2021 @03:52AM (#27094107)

Not playing is even worse, I used to live near a less financially developed area of the city and youtube would promote dreadful videos either musically or societally if not logged in.

I did it for a couple of weeks to see what was being promoted by youtube algorithms in terms of content and ads to the more financially challenged parts of the society. Gangsta and sexually inuendo videos in neighbourhoods that although poor do not have a crime problem and young people don't dress like that. But it seems the algo is working on it. Note: This is in a European country

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Afraid to Google a thing because I don't want the algorit... by dvfjsdhgfv on Saturday May 08, 2021 @08:26AM (#27086512)

> Why should you pay any attention to what YouTube "suggests" you should watch?

There is one advantage: some obscure music videos. There are some rare pearls with the comments section almost exclusively thanking YT algorithm for taking them there. Happened to me so many times that I have a separate browser instance and a Google account for YT and I'm very careful what I click when I use it.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Afraid to Google a thing because I don't want the algorit... by mythrwy on Sunday May 09, 2021 @01:48AM (#27093564)

Yes 100%. I have to plug this channel that came up like that a few months ago. It has a lot of obscure rock and a lot of it is really good!

https://www.youtube.com/c/TerminalPassage/videos

I didn't even know there was a Jazz/Fusion rock scene in Japan in the 70's for instance. I never would have heard of this band without YouTube suggestions but really enjoying their work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20eVtt1VJyg

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Afraid to Google a thing because I don't want the algorit... by mannykannot on Saturday May 08, 2021 @06:48PM (#27091500)

This brings us right back to square one: are the benefits of the recommending algorithms worth the downside? We can make that choice.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Afraid to Google a thing because I don't want the algorit... by Mordisquitos on Saturday May 08, 2021 @09:15AM (#27086849)

True, you do have a point there. I'll admit I have discovered a few bands/musicians by just leaving YouTube on autoplay, after having searched for specific artists I already knew to concentrate while working (before lo-fi hip hop was trending!).

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Afraid to Google a thing because I don't want the algorit... by tarboreus on Saturday May 08, 2021 @11:04AM (#27087768)

This is the correct answer.

[ Parent | on HN ]