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

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

#101
On YouTube I create multiple channels to curate my recommendations. I have multi modal tastes but most recommendation systems don't really seem to deal with feedback that spans independent interests very well.

So, one channel for how-to's, crafting, and tech talks. One for instrumental and foreign language focus music, etc..

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

#102
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Now my printer also knows what I read

Ah the confusion of application-specific shortcuts VS OS-global ones... You're clearly a Chrome user :)

I use both Firefox and Chrome. So I see the print dialog too often

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

#103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am using DuckDuckGo and my experience is completely different, but I might be missing something. Do you have an example of a search you've done where the results were much better from Google Search than from DuckDuckGo?

My experience is that we reached a point where if DuckDuckGo can’t find something, then neither can Google. For local search Google is still a little better, but they choosen to drown out actual results with ads.

Not my experience for dev related searches. I assume this is because Google has learned I always search for JS stuff and I've gotten used to that so I'm not specific enough in my searches on DDG.

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

#104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

God knows if Google does any kind of cross-correlation between them. I would actually expect it.

They are also part of the Chromium project, so you're welcome to check it out, inspect the source code, and build it locally.

Just because it's open doesn't mean anyone can do such thing. I'm a professional dev and I can't browse such a complex C++ codebase.

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

#105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if it's from a channel I like but don't want to watch that one video...will clicking on this reduce suggestions from this channel, will it do nothing, will it unsubscribe me from that channel(as has happened in the past), ...? Nobody knows, I only know I don't want to play this game.

Use Firefox multi-account containers and the temporary containers add-on. Now your YouTube starts fresh with every new tab. It's actually nice, it means you get to build a new set of recommendations each time you open a tab, and because YT doesn't have that much data on you yet, the recommendations are directly linked to the thing you're currently watching, similar to how it used to be before the whole tracking extra…

Or use different folders of portable Chromium so you have any semblance of sandboxing + security.

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

#106

I think Netflix is the worst offender. If you spend a minute too long looking at the menu for a movie it will not only auto play, but for the foreseeable future Netflix will assume you’re watching it, want to finish watching it and watch similar stuff. More than most other services Netflix doesn’t trust your ratings or your lists when making up recommendations.

You can turn off auto play FYI.

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

#107
post #66

Even in a tweet about algorithms the guy can’t help but dunk on men to show what a nice guy he is.

I had a good laugh because that's actually a comment against the mansplaining common narrative, people will jump to explain things everytime they feel it's easy to add their contribute, being the audience a woman or a random guy on the internet or anyone they perceive weak enough to be a good target to show off their knowledge and skills

> Update: random dudes are now saying the unsolicited toxic replies are actually my fault for saying something in the first place. So NOW I feel like I've gotten a little glimpse of what it's like to be a woman on the internet.

I was very curious about how this is evidence that women specifically get berated on the internet rather than evidence that everyone is a potential target. Obviously from this interaction alone you can't tell if it happens more to women or not but... I thought it was kind of funny to say "this thing happened to me as a man and now I really understand that this thing happens to women."

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

#108
post #20

It's annoying clicking some youtube link only to find it was something you really don't want more of, and then youtube proceed to recommend much more of it, even though you barely watched any of it. kinda forces me to watch something else that is new but at least somewhat wanted in an attempt to make the algorithm look at the new shiny i'm interested in and forget the previous one. i find it funny though when amazon…

It’s better if you click that stuff, it causes the algorithm to recommend stuff you don’t care about, which means less YouTube holes to get sucked into

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

#109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Use Firefox multi-account containers and the temporary containers add-on. Now your YouTube starts fresh with every new tab. It's actually nice, it means you get to build a new set of recommendations each time you open a tab, and because YT doesn't have that much data on you yet, the recommendations are directly linked to the thing you're currently watching, similar to how it used to be before the whole tracking extra…

Or use different folders of portable Chromium so you have any semblance of sandboxing + security.

Temporary Containers is a pretty amazing sandbox already, as it uses a builtin Firefox feature.
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