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from the nielson-smielson-ratings-mean-nothing-except-to-a-reality-tv-show-president dept.
YouTube Recommendations for 'Alt-Right' Videos have Dropped Dramatically, Study Shows:
Google has made "major changes" to its recommendations system on YouTube that have reduced the amount of "alt-right" videos recommended to users, according to a study led by Nicolas Suzor, an associate professor at Queensland University of Technology.
During the first two weeks of February, alt-right videos appeared in YouTube's "Up Next" recommendations sidebar 7.8 percent of the time (roughly one in 13). From Feb. 15 onward, that number dropped to 0.4 percent (roughly one in 250).
Suzor's study took random samples of 3.6 million videos, and used 81 channels listed on a recent study by Rebecca Lewis [.pdf] as a starting point. That list includes voices like Richard Spencer, an American white supremacist, but also includes more mainstream voices like Joe Rogan, who does not self-identify as alt-right but often plays host to more extremist voices on his podcast (including alt-right figures such as Alex Jones).
The drop appears significant, but it's difficult to figure precisely how that drop occurred. We don't know if YouTube is targeting 'alt-right' videos specifically or if the drop off is part of broader changes to YouTube's recommendation system.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 15 2019, @09:29PM
Hey, AC! Prof. AC here! Bring your weak little mind into my classroom, and I will have you indoctrinated before you can recite π! First, I will display the instruments of indoctrination. Words, many words, words representing ideas, ideas that are the material of reasoning. Then I will require you to use them! This can be quite painful for those unused to thinking, so it may hurt at first. But as you progress, and become progressive, you will realize the errors of your past ignorance and conservative feefees. So, please! Step into my classroom, or that of any institution of higher learning! What, are ya scared, punk? Go ahead, make my millennial!