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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

#211

Post by ergot_vacation »

wodenokoto wrote: post #24

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.

Fundamentally, tools should serve their masters. When it's the other way around, it's time to find a different tool.

And yes, they had to get rid of ratings, because some people's feelings got hurt because they were being rated so low. Can't have that pesky objective reality rearing its ugly head.

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

#212

Post by ergot_vacation »

KozmoNau7 wrote: post #80
skrebbel wrote: post #35

I'm mildly curious about the whole Jordan Peterson anti-woke movement. Mildly, as in, I'm interested in the arguments but I often don't agree with them. I once made the mistake of clicking on a Peterson YouTube video and subsequently got only obscene alt-right "Peterson KILLS stupid feminist reporter!!" type of edited content. Like at some point 80% of my suggestions was crap like that, drowning out all the lovely ne…

It's a consequence of the algorithm optimizing for engagement. YT obviously wants people to stay for as long as possible, to interact, write comments, upvote/downvote and follow the chain of recommended videos. The longer they stay on YT and the more content the consume, the more ads YT can show and the more money they make. Anti-woke/alt-right type content is provocative, controversial and makes people engage with.…

It's important to note however that alt-right content is just one particular example. Often people encounter this algorithmic behavior and ascribe certain motives to Youtube etc. And while that probably IS happening to some degree, it's also true, and probably more common, that the system is just showing you more of what it thinks you will like. There are plenty of stories of this happening in a more innocuous (but still obnoxious) way: click one car repair video, everything is car repair videos. Click one clip from an old animated show for nostalgia, EVERYTHING is now clips from old 90s shows.

And to counter all this, often the system is actually surprisingly insightful in digging up obscure crap from god knows where that's really neat, and right up your alley, that you never would have seen otherwise.

And then it goes back to filling your whole front page with Simpsons clips.

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

#213

Post by x86ARMsRace »

theandrewbailey wrote: post #176
x86ARMsRace wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I continually get suggested videos that are all already watched. I can't think of the last time I've gotten video suggestions that don't already have a red line at the bottom. At least it has stopped queueing up the same 3 videogame walkthrough videos I always click out of the minute they start.

About half of the videos Youtube throws at me are ones I've already watched. While I will occasionally rewatch something, it's nowhere near half the time. I thought that it was because I use Youtube without being logged in, but I guess not?

I keep youtube logged in on all of my devices. I suspect it's just the algorithm being stupid.

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

#215

Post by pseudalopex »

BugsJustFindMe wrote: post #193
pseudalopex wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The same setting controls both in my experience.

And if I want automatic previews because that's convenient but not for shows and movies to start themselves because that's annoying?

Suggest it to Netflix.
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