YouTube’s ‘dislike’ barely works according to new study on recommendations (engadget.com)

Article summary

A study by Mozilla found that YouTube's in-app controls, such as the 'dislike' button, are ineffective in controlling suggested content. The study used data from millions of recommended videos and found that these controls prevented less than half of unwanted algorithmic recommendations. The most effective control was 'don't recommend from channel', which prevented 43% of unwanted recommendations. The study highlights the need for YouTube to better explain its controls to users and give people more proactive ways of defining what they want to see.

Main themes

• YouTube algorithm effectiveness
• user control and transparency
• recommendation biases
• alternative platforms
• algorithmic nuances
• user preferences

What commenters say

• YouTube's recommendation algorithm is biased towards popularity and recent views, rather than user preferences.
• Some users find that clearing their watch history or using alternative methods, such as Incognito mode, can improve their recommendations.
• The algorithm's inability to understand nuances in user preferences leads to irrelevant and unwanted recommendations.
• Users who subscribe to channels they like may receive better recommendations, but this is not a reliable solution for everyone.
• The lack of transparency and control in YouTube's algorithm is a major issue, with some users feeling that their preferences are being ignored.
• Alternative platforms, such as TikTok, may have more effective recommendation algorithms.
• Some users believe that YouTube's algorithm is intentionally designed to prioritize certain types of content, such as clickbait or popular videos.