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 did it with my grandmother’s Facebook a few years back by blocking most of the worst of the pages that were spewing that crap. Her feed got boring for her and she switched to reading erotica
That tracks. 🤘🏼🤣
A lot of misinformation is served by ads so getting a pihole would go a long way I think.
https://support.google.com/My-Ad-Center-Help/answer/12155451?hl=en
You can customize the profile Google has on you, I’m not sure if it’s the same used by YouTube. YouTube might have a similar section and you can do the same with tiktok in the options somewhere. They will notice if you aren’t subtle. I would do it little by little over a few weeks.
There are antifa blocklists and other good options available for pi-hole and similar as well.
ETA: Found this blocklist which seems to be actively maintained.
Does anyone know if there’s a more up-to-date blocklist? This is great, but it’s 4-5 years old.
I never noticed. Thanks for mentioning that. I’d also love something that’s updated regularly.
I found this so far. Seems to have been updated 2 weeks ago.
Currently looking for more.
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?
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.
You could just block it on the router and tell them that Facebook burnt down
One thing kids like is to be tricked.
For instance, I was going to take my little nephew to Disneyland, but instead I drove him to an old burned-out warehouse.
“Oh, no,” I said. “Disneyland burned down.” He cried and cried, but I think that deep down, he thought it was a pretty good joke.
I started to drive over to the real Disneyland, but it was getting pretty late.
From your lips to god’s ears
For youtube, you can nudge the algo by hitting I’m not interested on a video. Maybe a ton of that?
