This episode of Outrage Science Bites with David Beckemeyer dives into a troubling trend: the potential for YouTube's recommendation algorithm to lead viewers down a rabbit hole of misinformation, regardless of their initial interests.
The episode explores a recent study by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) that examined how YouTube curates content for users. You'll hear how seemingly harmless viewing can take a surprising turn, with the algorithm recommending videos that raise concerns.
David discusses the broader implications of the ISD study, including findings that question whether YouTube's algorithm can effectively distinguish between age-appropriate content and potentially harmful material. The episode explores why warning labels, as suggested by the Surgeon General, might be just a band-aid on a larger problem.
Links:
Outrage Overload podcast: https://outrageoverload.net/
31: Down the Rabbit Hole: How YouTube Poisons Minds