I have an old Google account that I only use for one specific thing today: YouTube recommendations.
Their algorithm is actually decent. Which is not something I hear myself very often. And while it can be a trap, it does actually recommend me a fair bit of high quality content as long as I stay away from the obvious traps, make sure to block channels I don’t like, and use the feature “not interested” on videos that I don’t like.
However. I would like to only use my web feed client and no Google account at all, but I would then miss out on the recommended videos.
Is there some privacy respecting alternative to this that I’m not aware of?
I know that’s not exactly what you’re looking for, but imo not getting recommendations from YouTube’s algorithm at all might be better. Why? From the Cambridge analytica scandal we have proof that these algorithms have the capability to manipulate people’s ideologies without their consent. I think your algorithm basically personalizes an indoctrination strategy. The idea is not new, it has been talked about in the famous book ‘Manufacturing consent’.
Let’s say, they don’t have a grand political plan behind their algorithm, but even then, the algorithm is just optimizing your feed for maximum engagement rather than intellectual nourishment. They just want you to watch more and more. And not spend much time to stop, think and reflect.
As for recommendations, you can get them organically from your close friends (they’d def be happy to send you a bunch lol) or from lemmy communities (like the documentaries ones)
Thank you for the, well… human reply! :D
I know all about this, both from a moral and technical standpoint. And I have seen the algorithm do this multiple times, but I’m aware of it, and I only watch wholesome family friendly content, which is mainly about tech, bikes and coffee. I don’t care for politics, drama or anything like that, which is why it’s quite easy to spot the dark rabbit holes I get presented with from time to time. :)
Recommendations from friends only work if you have friends. I do get recommended videos on social media (which is the fediverse for me), but it’s rare. I actually like checking my inbox, and if I don’t feel like watching something there, I just go and see the rekommendations, which is not always good, but they do have some fun stuff from time to time. I have found most of the channels that I subscribe to there.