Study: YouTube intentionally recommends funny videos to people who watch too much political content | AI News Digest
A recent study by researchers from the University of Arkansas reveals that YouTube's algorithm intentionally shifts recommendations from political content to entertaining videos when users watch too much political material. The analysis of over 685,000 videos showed that after viewing political topics, users are directed towards funnier content, particularly in YouTube Shorts. The study highlights how the platform aims to enhance user engagement and increase revenue by steering viewers away from sensitive topics. This behavior of the algorithm was observed regardless of the duration of video viewing. The findings suggest that many users may be unaware of how their viewing habits influence the content they are served. YouTube has not commented on the study's results.
