This is great. I feel the same way, but have been trying to train the existing YT algorithm. I started using my work email youtube profile to actively subscribe/like/save videos that I want to see more of (about hiring, management, culture, Kubernetes, devtools etc). At the same time I aggressively choose "not interested" and "do not suggest this channel" when the algorithm isn't suggesting what I want (more detail: https://twitter.com/GrantM/status/1325471071265558532).
I'd rather skip a meal than eat fish. In fact the last time I ate fish was 22 years ago during my compulsory military service which I still have nightmares of (but not because of the fish).
Sounds similar to how I trained my TikTok feed while I was playing around with it for a week - repeatedly clicking on not interested for dancing, cooking, and general youth stuff left me with a feed composed of nature videos - pretty cool.
On a side note, tiktok has to have the best recommendation algorithm possible - not good for us, but good as in addicting.
In my experience the YouTube algorithm is very easily manipulated. Just scroll through your feed and select "not interested" for what you dislike. The type of content changes very quickly.
Over the years I’ve probably „blocked“ every single term from the Star Wars universe. Yet as soon as the next iteration of the franchise approaches box offices I find myself flooded with the most absurd cross-marketing videos you can imagine. Not talking about (official) ads. I have the strong impression the algorithm either takes ad campaigns into account — or is being abused by advertisers very successfully.
Makes sense, ads are payed per impression, so if a company soaks away more impressions that don't lead to actions then that means more revenue. I guess the trick is to make sure your still - only just - the best cpm around.
