Laurie VossMar 7, 2023
A thing about Mastodon that I didn't realize I'd missed from pre-algorithm Twitter is the sheer randomness of the content. No longer honed to be hyper-engaging (usually by being scary or enraging) I now see weird experiments, fun scientific papers, random shitposts. Of course it's not all exactly in my wheelhouse, but that makes it simultaneously more *interesting* while being less *addictive*. The whole experience feels a lot healthier for my brain.
Show threadPeter BindelsMar 7, 2023

@seldo Similar to youtube... whenever I get too samey recommendations I go to my subscriptions for things that I actually want to see... often finding many things I wish the algorithm recommended but it just doesn't.

Recently I've found the algorithm to be significantly worse than just looking at subscriptions.

Show threadKohaneMar 7, 2023
@dascandy42 @seldo Does it happen to you that the main page of YouTube is often filled with videos you already watched & either didn't like or finished & moved on? I happens too often for me, but I wonder if I'm the only one...
Show threadPeter Bindels
@kohane @seldo Some of those, but mostly things on its recommended page that it tried to push on me and I ignored ... and it keeps trying for weeks on end, at the expense of actual youtube channels I've even turned on notifications for.
Mar 8, 2023 at 8:51amWeb
Show threadKohaneMar 8, 2023
@dascandy42 @seldo That's interesting... I have that with Instagram but not with YouTube. Do you use an app or website?
Show threadPeter BindelsMar 8, 2023
@kohane @seldo Both, but given the size of recommendations visible I notice it most on the website. The mobile app is so infested with ads it's hard to see what videos are even present.
Show threadKohaneMar 8, 2023
@dascandy42 @seldo Infested is a great image 😂
I don't use apps at all, only the website. But I don't get any ads there, & I do see notifications. Just way too many vids that I already watched & they're recommended... for some reason? I watch vids using iPad or MacBook, not phone. And ofc Ad Blockers. Maybe that make any difference...?