Unannounced, YouTube started testing an algorithm that changed the order videos appeared in users' subscription feeds.
The experiment came to light when some users complained on social media.
One YouTube star said it was the worst decision the website had made for years. But YouTube defended its experiment.
Originally, the YouTube subscription feed was a chronological list of videos from all the channels that a person had chosen to "subscribe" to. The system let people curate a personalised feed full of content from their favourite video-makers.
However, many video-makers have previously complained that some of their videos have not appeared in the subscription feed, and have questioned whether YouTube manipulates the list to boost viewer retention and advertising revenue.
YouTube's latest experiment - which it said appeared for a "small number" of users - changed the order of videos in the feed. Instead of showing the most recent videos at the top, YouTube said the manipulated feed showed people "the videos they want to watch".
No comments:
Post a Comment