Escaping the Algorithm: YouTube
I was told recently that clearing your YouTube history turns your homepage blank - no more recommended content. It also turns off YouTube Shorts.
YouTube is my primary attention-hog these days.
I am watching too many random videos from my recommended page. Just how and when did I start watching a 20 minute video titled "Parks and Rec moments to watch when your life is falling apart"??!
I am also, obviously, mindlessly browsing YouTube Shorts.
Given it is using all the TikTok tactics of keeping your attention (the original brainrot app is banned here in India), it is addictive as hell and I have to ban YouTube for myself.
I do enjoy a lot of YouTube though - so I think I have found a good middle-ground.
Until now, I relied on the home page to show me new videos of channels I like and to help me find new content. I barely subscribed to creators I liked.
From now, I am trying a new way. No more Shorts, and recommended videos on the home page. My YouTube history is off. I subscribe to creators I like, and consume the videos from the "Subscribed" tab. Like an RSS Reader.
This does leave out the "discovery" part. I am relying on other media sources I consume to fill this gap.
Lets see how it goes!