When algorithms learn and change
Once upon a time there was a YouTube where a simple click took you into the dark depths of the internet. An innocent video about cats could lead you to extreme theories or even harmful disinformation. Many blamed the recommendation algorithm. The image of YouTube as a “seducer to extremism” took a massive hit in 2019.
2016: YouTube's most controversial year
Let's look back to 2016: It was the year of the US presidential election, and the virtual corridors of YouTube were the battleground for an unprecedented wave of disinformation. Did you click on “Criticism of Feminism”? Well, how about you end up with extreme men's rights activists next? For many, this spiral of suggestions became a reality. Figures like Alex Jones and his Infowars channel thrived, and YouTube's reputation suffered tremendously.
Action instead of reaction: YouTube's big cleanup
But here's the twist: YouTube listened and changed. The platform overhauled its algorithms and began a large-scale cleanup in 2019. Videos that bordered on acceptable were withheld. Channels that repeatedly violated the guidelines were demonetized and, in some cases, even blocked.
The truth in the algorithm
Researchers at Dartmouth University recently shed light on the darkness of the debate. Their study, which followed 1,181 people for months, revealed surprising results. It seems as if most of those who consume radical content were already radicalized before YouTube and not by the platform itself.
The myth of the “rabbit hole effect”
Another interesting find? Only 1% of users actually fell down the infamous “rabbit hole”. This is the phenomenon where, after watching a harmless video, a user is suddenly drawn into a chain of more extreme videos. While this may sound like a small number, given the size of the video streaming service, it could still affect hundreds of thousands or even millions of people.
The bottom line: A new era for YouTube
The research seems clear: YouTube has made an effort to reduce radicalization, and it looks like they've succeeded. However, it is important to note that there is always room for improvement. A call to all Internet users: always be vigilant, critical and informed!
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Also read: No, Facebook is not discontinuing its app!
Source:
Science
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

