YouTube provides its users with various entertainment and educational videos for a long time now. However, the video platform's recommendations could lead them into weird videos that may not appropriate to the younger audience.  

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Some researchers warned the public that the app's algorithmic suggestions usually lead to conspiracy theories that could have dangerous effects, primarily on younger users. Although YouTube promised to improve its algorithm, Mozilla said they don't have any way to evaluate its improvements. 

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Mozilla created a browser extension called "RegretsReporter," allowing users to provide their feedback about YT's terrible recommendations. The company hopes that it could help the users better understand how YouTube's recommendations algorithms work and give details on patterns. 

In 2019, the Mozilla began gathering users' stories about the videos YouTube recommended to them. One user searched for Vikings videos and was suggested with content about white supremacy. Another one looked for "fail" videos, which were supposed to be funny. However, the user was recommended with grisly videos of fatal car accidents. 

However, Ashley Boyd, Mozilla's vice president of advocacy and engagement, said that there hadn't been a large-scale, independent effort to study how YouTube's recommendation algorithm works. 

"So much attention goes to Facebook - and deservedly so- when it comes to misinformation," said Boyd. 

"But there are other elements in the digital ecosystem that have been under attended-to, and YouTube was one of those," she added.  

YouTube promised to adjust its recommendations algorithm 

YouTube, the Google-owned video platform, promised on several occasions that it would adjust its algorithm. The company's spokesperson said that they are always interested to see research on its recommendation system. 

The spokesperson also explained that the company updates its systems on an ongoing basis to improve its users' experience. In 2019, YouTube launched over 30 different changes to reduce recommendations of borderline content, he added. 

On the other hand, Mozilla's new browser extension could further help in fixing the issue. It will send the data about how people usually use YouTube to the browser. However, it will not collect information about what the users are watching or searching for unless they provide it themselves. 

The company hopes that the browser extension could help the users understand Youtube's recommendations, enabling them to know what videos could lead to violent, racist, or conspirational content.   

For more news updates about YouTube or other social media platforms, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.  

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This article is owned by TechTimes,

Written by: Giuliano de Leon.

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