Escaping the Algorithm: FreeTube and Other "Tube" Varieties

[onlyknownothing]

Given that I just talked in my last post about how bad the push for "engagement" and the associated algorithmic-feed content-serving is for your mental and emotional well-being? I feel it's important to give whatever direction I can for how to minimize your exposure to it.

As I said there, I don't think it's actually realistic to expect that people should completely avoid any exposure to ad-supported, "engagement" seeking content service. That is nearly all media at this point, and if you ditch it entirely you are likely to find yourself in the position of being unable to tell what's going on in the world around you in a time where things may abruptly shift in serious ways.

That said, there are things you can do to limit the impact algorithmic content-feeds have on you. Most of these social media sites have inbuilt ways to "share" their content outside of the walled-garden bubble in order to draw others inside them, and any time outside access to data is allowed it's possible to manipulate that data once it's outside the original company's control. While there is currently a push to curtail these avenues of access (Reddit killed its free API to destroy third-party access apps and Twitter/X killed outside linking and "logged out" viewing entirely in an effort to drive account creation), most other social media sites are taking a "wait and see" approach and preserving their current methods to see if the efforts to recreate closed systems bear fruit before following in their footsteps.

This means that, at least for right now, there are non-algorithmic access methods to otherwise-algorithmic sites. The majority of these are for YouTube, because the YouTube algorithm is commonly seen as one of the most aggressive pushers of content tuned for "engagement" over usable, desirable videos. Not only is the YouTube "alt-right pipeline" so well-known that YouTube itself has a statement on how they're trying to prevent it, but it actually makes it difficult to find materials you're actually looking for due to the algorithmic search and content-service models actively attempting to funnel you into "engaging" with things you never wanted or asked for.

So... meet FreeTube. FreeTube is a freestanding, free-to-download, free-to-use YouTube client that filters the algorithm out of the equation via funneling searches and video views through their own third-party servers, preventing the site from being able to record your individual engagement (and thus unable to make attempts to manipulate it). While this won't resolve the manipulation and engagement-seeking behaviors by individual creators on the platform, it significantly reduces the sort of silent "herding of your mind" that the algorithm performs in efforts to keep you glued to the screen as long as possible. No ads, as well!

If you want to go even further, you can bypass the "content service" side of things entirely as well. If all you're looking for is something to watch, it's entirely possible to just... stream YouTube. Kind of as a whole. I've talked before about YTCH, which collates YouTube videos into "channels" by content and just runs an endless, continuous stream in the same way old broadcast television channels used to function. Another option, which is more "Web 1.0" in design but lovely in concept, is ytstalker. This serves a random video from within a particular window of time and within a particular scope of views, allowing you to intentionally pull from older or less-well-known uploaders. This entirely-random distribution allows you to find things you'd never have been given by a search or the YouTube algorithm, allowing you a window into the millions of video hours uploaded to the site which have never achieved "traction."

People taking a hike. Playing with their dogs. Talking about a hobby they do. Playing a video game. Living. Simple, relatively neutral experiences which you may find relaxing or enjoyable or informative. Things that aren't purposefully shaped to grab your attention and compel you to engage.

If you have any other suggestions, especially for places like Reddit or Instagram or other social media where I am less familiar with possible alternatives - please do share. I'd love to hear from you.