YouTube‘s algorithm has come under scrutiny after a study conducted by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) revealed that it recommended videos promoting guns, school shootings, and a movie about serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer to accounts for young gamers. The findings raise concerns about the safety of YouTube’s recommendation system and its impact on the well-being of young users.
YouTube pushed shooting and weapon-related content to young kids
The study involved creating four test YouTube accounts, two identified as nine-year-old boys and two as 14-year-old boys, who showed interest in video games by watching gaming playlists. The researchers analyzed the videos recommended by YouTube’s algorithm to these minor accounts, with some engaging with the recommendations and others not.
Contrary to YouTube’s claims of delivering responsible recommendations, the study found that YouTube pushed content related to shootings and weapons to all gamer accounts. However, the accounts that clicked on the recommended videos were exposed to a significantly higher volume of gun and shooting-related content. These recommendations included videos depicting school shootings, instructions on modifying firearms into automatic weapons, and a movie about serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
Notably, many of these videos violated YouTube’s own policies on violence, firearms, and child safety. Despite this, YouTube appeared to take no action to age-restrict or remove the videos. This contradicts YouTube’s 2021 assertion that its recommendations do not steer viewers toward extreme content.
YouTube’s popularity among young people is evident, with a 2022 Pew Research survey revealing that 95% of surveyed individuals between the ages of 13 and 17 used the platform. Despite this, YouTube has received less scrutiny than platforms like TikTok and Instagram regarding their impact on teen development and well-being.
YouTube’s recommendation algorithm operates based on user signals, such as clicks, watch time, and video preferences. Recommendations drive a significant portion of overall viewership on the platform, emphasizing the importance of delivering engaging content and ads. While users cannot disable the recommendations feature, they can remove individual recommended videos from their feeds.
The study highlights the need for YouTube to address the issues with its recommendation system, especially concerning the exposure of minors to harmful and inappropriate content. Stricter enforcement of policies and age restrictions, along with ongoing transparency and accountability, are necessary to ensure a safer and more responsible YouTube experience for young users.
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