My parents are both in the far-right misinformation gutter on Youtube, Tiktok, Instagram, and maybe some other apps I don’t know about. I had the idea recently to try and surreptitiously deradicalize their algorithms by logging into their accounts and watching content that’ll steer them towards credible information, but I’m not entirely sure what the best approach is. I know that if their feeds suddenly become left-leaning, they’re going to notice something is up. They might even think the platform is trying to do a DEI on them, and may try switching to Truth Social.
Does anyone know if there are resources out there explaining how to do something like this? I’m sure I’m not the first person to have this idea. I don’t use any of these sites/apps myself, so I don’t feel like I know them enough to come up with a solid plan. I don’t wanna fuck it up lol
I would doubt the efficacy of watching stuff on their account to try to shift the algorithm. For one, the algorithm appears to naturally select for controversial (and more likely right-leaning) content on its own when left unchecked and without significant history to the contrary. Secondly - and this is the one I can’t help with - your parents are selecting that content. The root problem is there. You can watch all the left-leaning stuff you want but they’re going to counteract it and the algorithm is going to back that up. To the algorithm, what’s more important, a small and recent interest in content entirely unrelated to what it’s accustomed to, or hundreds of hours of watch time on accounts the user is still subscribed to and also watches?
Well from personal experience I can tell you that curating the watch history is highly effective at changing the recommended videos yt serves you.
But they need to have an account for OP to be able to fully use this, else you can’t delete watched videos on yt.
Exactly, without a change of viewing habits on their part, the algorithm will naturally just pull back to insaneo land.
I have to constantly battle YouTube trying to serve me right wing trash.
Sooo this. I have a YouTube account with history and tracking turned off since the day I signed up. All of the promoted content is divisive hysteria, mostly
alt-rightfascist rage-bait.I have had my YT account for about 20 years, and curating my watch history is highly effective in my experience.
So if OP manage to access their parents account, they can slowly watch interesting but neutral videos while starting to remove older videos from their history.